Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

Christiane and Jamie are back answering your questions! In regards to Donald Trump's de-facto takeover of Venezuela, they're asked to what extent oil actually incentivised the capturing of Nicolás Maduro, whether the US will seize control of Greenland next, and what impact all this will have on potential peace in Ukraine. They also discuss whether the drip feed release of Epstein files to the publ...

After the New Year began with a coup that shook the world, Christiane and Jamie react to Trump's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and ask whether the extraordinary events in Caracas over the weekend mean we're in for another turbulent twelve months in 2026. Christiane reveals how she first heard about the news - and questions what message this operation sends to America's adversaries,...

The legendary Tina Brown - ex-Editor of Vanity Fair and now the writer of the Substack "Fresh Hell" - joins Christiane for a look back on a year like no other. They unpick Trump's Chief of Staff describing the President as having an "alcoholic's personality" in a recent interview, discuss whether the Epstein Files have been a damp squib, and explain why more billionaires buying media companies is...

With the first cracks in MAGA’s unity beginning to show, Christiane and Jamie are asked what the future of the movement looks like and whether the Democratic Party will be strong enough to take advantage of those cracks and build a lasting majority. Also on the agenda - the president has threatened to ban several nations from competing in the forthcoming US-hosted FIFA World Cup, as well as claimi...

In this special episode, Christiane and Jamie sum up the impact Trump has had on the world in 2025 - and discuss whether this was the year the rules-based world order was abandoned for good. They run the rule over a chaotic 12 months in foreign policy, examining Trump's impact on major stories from the war in Ukraine to the Middle East, and from the simmering conflict with Venezuela to how Trump m...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked whether the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand could be disbanded over questions of the legality of Trump's bombing of alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean sea. They’re also asked, given the apparent lack of support for Europe against continued Russian aggression, whether it could...

The Trump administration has finally published its National Security strategy - and it's left Christiane and Jamie baffled. This week, they discuss why, at a time of war in Ukraine, the President seems so keen to welcome Russia back into the fold, while criticising America's European allies. Plus, Christiane reflects on her recent exclusive interview with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and, on...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked about Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to the Israeli president for a pardon from the long-running corruption trial he faces, for which he’s pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and fraud. Is a pardon really in the Israeli public interest, as he claims?  They’re also quizzed on&n...

With Congress now formally looking into accusations that the War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has asked US forces to carry out illegal orders in the Caribbean, Christiane and Jamie explain the background to the story and examine those allegations in detail. Why does the Trump administration seem so obsessed with launching a full-blown military campaign against Venezuela? And what are the consequences...

In this week’s Q&A, in the wake of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, Christiane and Jamie are asked how the US should best deal with regimes that, despite condemnable human rights records, remain important strategic allies. They’re also asked why President Trump gets away with his consistently rude treatment of journalists, Christiane noting a rec...

Why does Trump think he can force Ukraine to accept a “peace plan” that hands Putin almost everything he wants? In this episode, Christiane explains why the latest US-backed proposals and Trump's pressure campaign are so problematic - and gives her very personal reaction to the fast-moving negotiations. And as high-stakes talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US take place in Abu Dhabi, Christian...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked to explain the potential rationale behind Donald Trump’s U-turn on the Epstein files. The bill ordering the release of the files has passed in the House of Representatives and the Senate, with Trump’s blessing… despite him recently labelling congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene a “traitor” for supporting the motion. They’re also asked about th...

Christiane reflects on the 30th anniversary of the end of the Bosnian War, revealing why current world leaders could learn valuable lessons from how that conflict ended when it comes to Ukraine and the Middle East. She and Jamie also explain what made the US military intervention in Bosnia so successful, and why it didn't turn into a repeat of the Vietnam War, as some had claimed it would. Plus, a...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked about the events that led to Donald Trump threatening to sue the BBC for $1bn. How serious an act is it to edit a video of the President in a way that could be considered misleading? Also posed are questions about the recent success of the Democrats in the US, at the forefront of which is Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Will he succeed as the Mayor of N...

This week, the famed couples' therapist Esther Perel joins Christiane for a special episode. Ahead of the Holiday season, they discuss why families and world leaders seem to be more polarised than ever by politics and an inability to resolve their differences - and Esther explains what people can do to heal divisions in their own lives at this difficult time. Esther also reveals to Christiane what...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked how NATO states would react, militarily, if Donald Trump’s America were to invade Canada. Assuming Article 5 would be invoked, would NATO then allow US allies to come to Canada’s defence and go to war with America? Christiane is also joined by Ernest Moniz, physicist, former United States Secretary of Energy, and Co-Chair and CEO of the Nuclea...

Putin says Russia has just successfully tested a new type of nuclear-powered weapon. China has doubled the size of its nuclear arsenal in the last five years - and shows no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Trump is promising to restart US nuclear weapons tests. After a week of sabre-rattling from world leaders, Christiane and Jamie discuss whether we're entering a new Cold War, and analyse how se...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked what they think about the announcement from Kamala Harris that she’s considering running for president again - and how they think she’d do.  Christiane and Jamie are also asked who they think will win the upcoming New York Mayoral Election and whether the 34 year old favourite, Democrat Zohran Mamdani, has provided a political template fo...

The US Defence Secretary is asking journalists to "make a pact with the devil" says Christiane this week, as she and Jamie discuss why Pete Hegseth seems so intent on censoring the Pentagon Press. Does the former Army Major have something to hide? Or is this just another sign of authoritarianism creeping into the Trump administration? Christiane explains what the consequences of this move could be...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie tackle your questions about the growing “No Kings” protests and the viral video of President Trump wearing a crown. Why isn’t there more outrage over a president who seems to see himself as a monarch? They also explore what’s next for Syria following Assad’s overthrow last year and revisit why President Obama ultimately failed to enforce his famous “red...

As the Trump administration's strikes on 'narco-terrorist' boats in the Caribbean continue, Christiane and Jamie discuss whether this is the start of a full-blown conflict with Venezuela - and ask whether Trump is going for regime change in the Latin American country. Christiane highlights previous US attempts at regime change - in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan - and explains why those went wrong, w...

In this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked why, despite widespread opposition to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, no one was able to stop the conflict until now. Also, is Tony Blair really a sound choice for the Gazan "Board of Peace"? They also address whether the U.S. Supreme Court could reverse its ruling that granted President Donald Trump immunity from criminal prosecution. Send us a...

The guns have fallen silent in Gaza, and the surviving hostages have returned to Israel — but will this ceasefire lead to real, lasting peace? Christiane and Jamie unpack the complex diplomatic road ahead, examining the two biggest obstacles standing in the way of lasting peace. Christiane shares exclusive insights from key figures across the Middle East about their concerns for phase two, while J...

In this week's Q&A episode, Christiane and Jamie are asked why the US federal government is currently in a shutdown, what impact it’ll have on the country and why the Trump administration blames the Democrats. They’re also asked how the media can help to raise awareness of femicide - given that UN statistics show rates of violence against women are growing annually across the world. Christiane...

Trump claims to have a plan which could lead to lasting peace in the Middle East - but is this any more than a framework for a fragile ceasefire? This week, Christiane and Jamie clash over how strong this plan is - and how good a chance it has of leading to meaningful peace. Jamie also explains why this deal could have been struck so much earlier if Trump had been willing to put more pressure on B...