Protests over the Trump Administration sending in the National Guard and the Marines to assist in its immigration raids are spreading across the country. Legal and military experts warn that this could threaten American democracy. California Governor Gavin Newsom calls it a brazen abuse of power. Governor Newsom and the State Attorney General Rob Bonta are suing the president to remove the troops from their streets. Bonta says mobilizing 700 marines to support the National Guard in LA is a "unne...
Jun 11, 2025•56 min
President Trump is doubling down on sending troops to Los Angeles, mobilizing another 2,000 National Guard members, while the Defense Department activated 700 Marines to react to the anti-ICE protests. Trump praised himself for the decision and suggested the city would have been completely obliterated otherwise. California's Governor Gavin Newsom, however, says the move was entirely unnecessary, and even counter-productive, claiming that local officials are more than capable of managing the unre...
Jun 10, 2025•57 min
Crowds have largely dispersed in downtown Los Angeles, which the police department declared an "unlawful assembly area." About 300 National Guard troops are now on the ground, deployed by Donald Trump over the objections of California leaders. These protests are taking place amidst a series of immigration measures by the Trump White House. Immigration lawyer Sui Ching and NPR correspondent Jasmine Garsd discuss the implications of all these recent developments. Also on today's show: Sasha Joelle...
Jun 09, 2025•56 min
After a long-awaited phone call between President Trump and President Xi Jinping and as Trump tries to iron out the kinks of his trade war with China, Ely Ratner, Biden's Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Indo-Pacific with close ties to Trump's Pentagon, argues that America needs a new NATO-like defense pact in Asia to counter the growing threat from Beijing. Plus, award-winning author and professor Ibram X. Kendi talks to Bianna about his new biography for young readers exploring the compl...
Jun 07, 2025•41 min
Yet again, US-China relations are tense. Ely Ratner served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during the Biden Administration. He joined the show from Washington to discuss his latest Foreign Affairs piece: "The Case for a Pacific Defense Pact." This conversation was just before Trump and Xi spoke. Also on today's show: author Ibram X. Kendi; financier Ray Dalio; actor Tom Hanks (from the archive) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...
Jun 06, 2025•57 min
It's become a rite of passage for world leaders: the Oval Office meeting with President Trump. Now, it's the turn of the relatively new Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz. Germany is the focal point for much of Trump's ire towards Europe, and a key priority will be to stave off looming tariffs. But also, high on the agenda is Ukraine. Member of German Parliament for Merz's CDU party, Norbert Röttgen, joins the show from Berlin. Also on today's show: CNN senior White House reporter Kevin Lipta...
Jun 05, 2025•56 min
"I will uphold the mission of fully overcoming the insurrection." Those are the words of new South Korean leader Lee Jae-myung, who promises to unite a divided nation. Journalist Ken Choi joins the show to discuss what Lee's election might mean for both South Korea and the rest of the world. Also on today's show: Investigative journalists Irina Borogan and Andrei Soldatov, tell me how the hopes of their generation were crushed by Vladimir Putin's regime. Plus, pioneering designer Prabal Gurung t...
Jun 04, 2025•56 min
"Unconscionable." That's how the United Nations' Human Rights Chief describes fatal attacks on Palestinians trying to reach aid in Gaza. Chaos erupted at a distribution site in Rafah today, where Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli forces opened fire. It's the third day in a row that people have been killed on their way to collect critically needed aid at the site, which is run by the controversial new "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation." This time the Israeli military says its forces did open fire m...
Jun 03, 2025•56 min
What was meant to be a gathering to support Israeli hostages held by Hamas turned into a crime scene in Boulder, Colorado on Sunday when a man attacked Jewish attendees with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flame thrower. This is just the latest in a series of heinous assaults on Jewish people in America. Joining the show to discuss is Michael Bernstein, chair of the board of the Tree of Life, a non-profit organization started by the community and congregation leaders in Pittsburgh after 11 Jew...
Jun 02, 2025•56 min
As President Trump and his allies escalate the administration's battle on colleges, and on Harvard specifically, Steven Levitsky, Harvard professor and author of “How Democracies Die,” joins Christiane to discuss the reshaping of knowledge in America. Then, best-selling German author Daniel Kehlmann speaks with Christiane about his new book “The Director," exploring what it was like for artists like G.W. Pabst who made films for Joseph Goebbels and the Nazis. Marking 600 days of war between Isra...
May 31, 2025•41 min
At the same time Russia is ramping up its attacks on Ukraine, the Kremlin claims it's ready with a peace plan for ceasefire talks in Turkey next week. But President Zelensky says they have not seen any draft plan. Meantime, President Trump is said to have given Putin a two-week window to show a genuine intention to end the war. Fiona Hill was President Trump's most senior Russia advisor during his first term and has been in the room with President Putin himself. She joins Christiane to discuss t...
May 30, 2025•57 min
As Harvard students celebrated the end of their academic journey, just six miles away the school's lawyers were in court, fighting back against President Trump's attempt to ban international students. That is only one front in a sustained attack by this administration on Harvard. For scholars of democracy, targeting higher education is both shocking and predictable. Steven Levitsky is a Professor of Government and of Latin American studies at Harvard, and the co-author of "How Democracies Die." ...
May 29, 2025•56 min
Protestors are blocking highways and raising their voices in Israel today, calling for the release of hostages, as they mark 600 days since the horrors of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. One of those hostages was Omer Shem Tov, who was kidnapped by Hamas and held for more than 500 days before being released in February. Bianna Golodryga spoke to him in New York about what he went through, and what he is focused on now. Also on today's show: Jameel Jaffer, Executive Director of the Knight Fi...
May 28, 2025•56 min
Israeli strikes have killed dozens in Gaza in the past few days alone, with the death toll there now well over 50,000. The IDF has issued evacuation orders for most of southern Gaza. It warns an "unprecedented attack" is coming as Israel plans to occupy 75% of the enclave in two months. CNN correspondent Jeremy Diamond joins from Jerusalem. Also on today's show: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; Former US Deputy Secretary of Treasury Wally Adeyemo & author David Shimer ("Rigged: Ame...
May 27, 2025•56 min
Former Secretary of State under President Barack Obama and Joe Biden's climate envoy, John Kerry discusses the current administration's climate U-turn, and what it means for China. He also speaks to Christiane about the administration's Ukraine policy and what kind of deal Trump might be able to negotiate with Iran. Then, Bridget Brink, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, tells Christiane that the Trump administration's policy of placing pressure on Ukraine "rather than on Russia as the aggre...
May 25, 2025•26 min
Secretary of State Marco Rubio was called to Capitol Hill to defend the Trump Administration's agenda this week. Perhaps no policy has felt the Trump undoing as much as climate change. John Kerry is someone who has led the US on all of these issues, as President Biden's Special Climate Envoy as well as Secretary of State under President Obama. He joins the show to discuss. Also on today's show: author Laura Bates ("The New Age of Sexism"); scientist David Liu Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
May 23, 2025•56 min
Officials from around the world are condemning the killing of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington DC. The attack comes at a time of heightened threats towards Israeli embassies globally, and a global rise in antisemitism, amid outrage over the country's conduct in Gaza. Correspondent Alex Marquardt joins the show from Washington, DC to discuss. Also on today's show: South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola; UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher; NYT investigati...
May 22, 2025•56 min
Russia continues to pound Ukraine, with drone attacks overnight coming just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to his American counterpart Donald Trump. Last month Bridget Brink resigned her post as US Ambassador to Ukraine in protest over the Trump Administration's marked change in policy towards Russia and Ukraine. She joins the show from Washington DC to explain why it matters for America to ensure Russia does not win the war it started. Also on today's show: Wilfred Frost, So...
May 21, 2025•41 min
The UK is making its frustration with its ally Israel known today, summoning its ambassador, pausing trade negotiations and sanctioning West Bank settlers. France and Canada also threatened to take "concrete action" against Israel. CNN's Jerusalem correspondent Jeremy Diamond joins the show from Tel Aviv. Also on today's show: Rim Turkmani, Director of Syria Conflict Research Program, LSE; Bonny Lin, Director, China Power Project; Ian Bremmer, President and Founder, Eurasia Group Learn more abou...
May 20, 2025•56 min
First: Last week, President Donald Trump said, “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together.” Now they have on the phone. But what will it mean for Ukraine. Then: Hundreds of people were killed in Gaza in a matter of days as Israel ramps up airstrikes and its ground offensive. Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman joins the show to discuss. Plus: The center defeats the far right in Romania, and the European Union breathes a sigh of relief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...
May 19, 2025•56 min
With Israel conspicuously absent from Trump's first major Middle East trip, Christiane speaks with Biden's former Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman about the ethical concerns surrounding his overseas deals and meetings, the U.S. role in the war in Gaza, and new revelations about efforts by Biden's inner circle to conceal his decline ahead of the election. Then, Ukraine's former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, speaks to Christiane about what the country should reasonably expect and where t...
May 17, 2025•41 min
Africa has been uniquely impacted by the economic rollercoaster of 2025, with the African Development Bank warning that tariffs could send "shockwaves" through the dozens of nations impacted, reducing trade and raising debt. The ADB aims to reduce poverty and living conditions for Africans across the continent, and its President Akinwumi Adesina joins Christiane from Abidjan. Also on today's show: Author Daniel Kehlmann; journalist Karen Attiah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...
May 16, 2025•56 min
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are due to meet in Turkey for peace talks but the leaders of both countries will not be present, despite President Putin proposing the talks take place. Moscow has notably withheld its top diplomatic heavyweights, which according to Zelensky, means the nation is "not serious" about peace. US President Donald Trump has weighed in, saying peace won't happen until he meets with Putin himself. Ukraine's former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba joins the show in Londo...
May 15, 2025•56 min
President Trump received a lavish welcome in Qatar today, the second stop on his tour of Gulf nations. While the primary focus of his trip is making deals -- yesterday he announced a $600 billion deal with Saudi Arabia -- he also said he's lifting all sanctions on Syria that were imposed during that country's brutal civil war. Correspondent Jeff Zeleny is following the president and he joins the program from Doha. Also on today's show: former Italian PM Matteo Renzi; Alon-Lee Green & Rula Da...
May 14, 2025•56 min
Today US President Donald Trump landed in Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his first major foreign trip since returning to office. After Riyadh, he'll go on to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Notably absent from his itinerary is Israel. On Monday, the US went around Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to secure the release of Edan Alexander, the final living American hostage out of Gaza. It appears to be part of a larger pattern, with America also engaging in direct talks with Iran, indirect tal...
May 13, 2025•56 min
Hamas has released Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage, saying it's part of steps towards a ceasefire deal and an end to the Israeli blockade that has lasted more than two months. Edan’s release is a moment of hope for Israel but there are still hostages trapped in Gaza and their loved ones continue to live in this nightmare. Among them is the family of Israeli-American Omer Neutra. Murdered by Hamas on October 7th, in the 583 days since, Omer’s remains have been held in Gaza. Omer'...
May 12, 2025•56 min
Eighty years since Nazi Germany surrendered, Europe marks VE Day as the once unbreakable transatlantic bond faces new pressure under the "America First" president of Donald Trump. Christiane speaks with Finland's President, Alexander Stubb, about his relationship with Trump, the future of NATO and Ukraine, and the Russia-China anti-Western alliance. Them, with the fate of both the people of Gaza and the Israeli hostages still on the line, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sharren Haskel, talks t...
May 10, 2025•41 min
As Europe celebrates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Ukraine is still under brutal Russian attack. And while Donald Trump vowed to end the war in 24 hours, three months into his second term the negotiations have stalled. Christiane speaks with a man who might have an insight into Trump's tactics: Finnish president Alexander Stubb. He spent hours golfing with Trump in March and was seated next to him at Pope Francis' recent funeral. Also on today's show: journalist Christo Grozev...
May 09, 2025•56 min
Today's 80th anniversary of victory over the Nazis in Europe feels like an occasion for reflection, as threats escalate in India and Pakistan and Russia’s brutal war of aggression in Ukraine drags on. So, is America still the indispensable nation, able to facilitate peace? Or has that historic role evaporated? Leon Panetta has been Congressman, White House Chief of Staff, Defense Secretary, CIA Director, and more. He speaks with Christiane from California. Also on today's show: Christopher Belli...
May 08, 2025•52 min
India and Pakistan's long-simmering tensions burst out in the open today, when India struck Punjab province and Pakistan's side of Kashmir, killing nearly 30 people. The military action comes on the heels of a militant attack in April that killed 26 people on the Indian side of Kashmir. Correspondent Nic Robertson has been following this story closely and recently traveled to the Pakistani-controlled side of Kashmir to find out how people are being affected by rising tensions in the region. Also...
May 07, 2025•1 hr
