Amanpour

Early this morning, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on American bases in the region, after the US military struck strategic locations near the Strait of Hormuz, which were themselves a response to Iran's downing of a US Army helicopter earlier this week. This came shortly after Iran and Israel exchanged fire over the weekend. Suzanne Maloney is a leading expert on Iran and the Persian Gulf polic...

Once again, President Trump is falsely claiming election fraud after Democrats advanced in the non-partisan primary for the Los Angeles mayoral race. Trump has blamed mail-in ballots for the result, reviving false claims that have become a familiar feature of his presidency. So what does this tell us about the president's mindset, and the state of America's democracy heading into the midterms? Sus...

For a while it looked like the war in the Middle East might tip into full-scale fighting again, after the first major exchange of fire between Israel and Iran since the April ceasefire. President Trump responded, posting “Israel and Iran must immediately stop ‘shooting.’” Tehran announced it has suspended military operations against Israel but warns that strikes will resume if attacks on Lebanon c...

Worldwide exclusive! Dive into Christiane Amanpour's sit-down with Lebanon's President Aoun on global tensions and hope for diplomacy. Plus, riveting stories from E. Jean Carroll to the artistic transformation of Paris' Pont Neuf. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Lebanon, a US-mediated ceasefire shows little sign of holding. Four people were killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon on Friday; Hezbollah says it continues to target Israeli troops. Amid the turmoil, Christiane met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut for an exclusive interview. Aoun rarely speaks with foreign media, but is taking this step to send a message to the world about...

Just hours after Israel and Lebanon agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire, the leaders of Hezbollah say they reject the deal. For more than four decades, Hezbollah has faced repeated attempts to weaken its power, yet it remains a potent force in the region. Correspondent Isobel Yeung reports from Lebanon.   Also on today's show: Jasmine Garsd, NPR Immigration Correspondent & Aaron Reichlin-Melnic, Sen...

A mixed picture is emerging from primary elections across America, with major implications for the political fight ahead. President Trump is facing record low approval ratings, while claiming he doesn't care about the midterms. But are the Democrats doing all they can to bolster their chances of recapturing the House and the Senate? Jonathan Martin, senior political columnist at Politico, joins Bi...

In Washington, talks between Israel and Lebanon are back on track, as representatives of both countries are meeting at the US State Department. It's a volatile situation, both diplomatically and militarily. Nabih Bulos, Middle East Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times, joins Bianna Golodryga to discuss.  Also on today's show: Former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda; Sara Naomi Bleich, Pr...

Diplomacy is breaking down between Tehran and Washington as a fragile ceasefire hangs on by a thread. Iran state media reports Tehran has suspended talks with the US in protest over Israel's intensifying military activity in Lebanon. To break down what this means for the ceasefire and any prospect of a long-lasting peace in the Middle East, CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Oren Liebermann joined Bianna...

Dive into global issues on the Amanpour Hour: From AI ethics with Pope Leo XIV to the complexities of the US-Iran conflict and Ukraine's evolving drone warfare. Join me as we navigate the week's crucial topics that shape our world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trump administration is ramping up its crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion. Civil rights activist and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality," and helped spearhead critical race theory. Her new memoir "Backtalker" traces her own journey growing up in Ohio during the Jim Crow era. She tells Christiane how she was inspired to speak truth to power, and the imp...

E. Jean Carroll, the woman who won two civil suits against Donald Trump to the tune of $88+ million, is now the target of a Justice Department investigation for perjury. The DOJ probe is viewed by many as yet another example of the president seeking retribution from his perceived enemies and critics. But in his new book “Crisis of the Common Good,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy argues that Trump...

Iranian state media says a possible agreement is under discussion with the US that could end the war. Regardless if and when a deal is reached, the monumental mistrust between America and the Mideast that's been growing for decades won't abate anytime soon. Our first guest knows all about that. Ben Rhodes is a former Deputy National Security Adviser who cowrote President Obama's landmark 2009 Cair...

The fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States is facing a new test. Iran's revolutionary guard is warning it has a "legitimate" right to respond, after US forces carried out what they called self-defense strikes on Iranian missile launch sites and boats around the Strait of Hormuz. And the regional situation is growing even more volatile. Israel has launched fresh strikes in Lebanon, si...

As old alliances are tested and new powers emerge, diplomacy is being reshaped across a divided world. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares discusses recent tensions between the U.S. and Europe. Then, we turn to the sports world, as former professional tennis player Rafael Nadal reflects on his new documentary and opens up about his struggles with anxiety and injury. CNN Chief Internationa...

As the war in the Middle East grinds on, grave repercussions are hitting the world's most vulnerable. What makes it all so much worse is the total evisceration of foreign-aid funding, led by the United States dismantling USAID. Somalia has been plagued by violence and famine for decades, and now this vulnerable country is headed towards the same disaster again. New York Times reporter Peter Goodma...

NATO Foreign Ministers are gathering in Sweden today, as the alliance faces mounting strains. President Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO, threatened action over Greenland and now the Pentagon says thousands of US troops will be pulled from Europe. One country that has been especially outspoken is Spain, openly challenging Washington over its war on Iran and sharply criticizing Israel's Palesti...

Donald Trump's hold on the Republican Party appears as strong as ever. In primaries held this week, Trump-backed candidates advanced in Georgia, Alabama and Kentucky. David A. Graham, author of a new book which examines how Project 2025 is reshaping America, joins the show to discuss what this moment tells us about the future of the GOP and the upcoming midterms.  Also on today's show: exiled Russ...

The Middle East remains trapped in limbo, as President Trump threatens to unleash overwhelming force on Iran, only to pull out last minute again. Egypt has been grappling with the economic blows of the conflict, and has been involved in trying to stop the fighting. Last week, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Iranian counterpart in India. He joined Christiane in London for an exclusive...

Lethal records are being set almost daily in Ukraine's war with Russia. But even as the air war expands, the tide on the ground may be turning. Last month, Ukraine managed to liberate more land than Russia seized - the first time Moscow suffered a net loss of territory since 2024. In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia to expect more attacks. Correspondent Nick Pato...

After pageantry and flattery in Beijing this week, Presidents Trump and Xi are hailing a new era of the America-China relationship. But stumbling blocks remain - from tech and trade deals to the war in Iran. China expert Rush Doshi served in President Biden's National Security Council and he joins the show to discuss all the details from this historic summit. Then, what went wrong in Israel? That'...

Two superpower leaders, two days of talks, and an agenda with global consequences ... all of it unfolding under the shadow of the war in Iran, which has thrown China's global influence into sharper focus. Over the last thirteen years, President Xi has transformed China, tightening control at home while embracing a bolder strategy abroad. Xiang Lanxin is Professor Emeritus of International History...

On his first trip to China in nearly a decade, there's a lot at stake for President Trump: tariff tensions, the AI race and the war with Iran are all on the table, along with a stark warning from Xi on Taiwan. China says he warned that if the issue is "mishandled" it could lead to "a highly dangerous situation." Rush Doshi served as a top official on China and Taiwan on President Biden's National...

Kevin Warsh, set to take over as fed chair this week, vowed in his confirmation hearing that he would be independent of the White House. For more than a year, outgoing chair Jerome Powell, himself a Trump pick, has faced relentless criticism and legal targeting by this administration. And this unprecedent pressure campaign is the subject of a new "Frontline" documentary, "The President vs. The Fed...

The Iran conflict may be America's and Israel's war of choice, but the fallout hits allies in Europe particularly hard. As their countries invest billions to rebuild their militaries in the face of a growing Russian threat, European leaders are standing up to US pressure. Wolfgang Ischinger was Germany's Ambassador to the United States. Now he's Chair of the Munich Security Conference, and he join...