Amanpour – Amid Challenges, Japan's New PM to Meet Trump

CNN Podcasts | October 27, 2025
Host: Bianna Golodryga (in for Christiane Amanpour)
Guests: David Sanger (NYT), Julianne Smith (fmr US Ambassador to NATO), Beth Macy (author), Donald Trump (clips), Misty Copeland (clip)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on President Trump's high-stakes diplomatic trip to Asia, focusing on his first meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanay Takechi, and wider US foreign policy challenges involving China and Russia. The show also examines global security, the shifting power dynamics among China, Russia, and the West, and touches on the state of democracy and polarization at home through an interview with journalist Beth Macy. The program ends with a tribute to trailblazing ballerina Misty Copeland.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Trump’s Asia Tour and High-Stakes Diplomacy

(00:03–06:45)

• Trump's Agenda: Trade deals and security are paramount as President Trump moves from Malaysia to Japan, seeking to bolster US influence in Asia while handling ongoing tariff disputes and security concerns.
• Japan’s Crucial Role: Japan pledges a $550 billion investment to ease tariffs, with the allocation under direct US influence—a tough sell to the Japanese public.
  • David Sanger: “The Japanese had to sort of do a deal where they agreed to spend $550 billion basically to avoid high tariffs. And now they're in the situation where the president himself may be deciding where that money goes instead of the Japanese politicians.” (02:53)
• Meet Japan’s New PM: Sanay Takechi, mentored by former PM Shinzo Abe, faces her first major test. The US sees her as key to managing Trump’s ‘punishing instincts,’ hoping she can develop strong personal chemistry as her predecessor did.

2. China: Trade Tensions and Rare Earths

(06:45–11:13)

• US-China Deal: Treasury Secretary Scott Besant confirms a temporary framework averting China’s threatened rare earth export controls. China delays action; US tariffs may drop; soybean purchases resume.
  • David Sanger: “This is a deal to buy time… the president is resolving a crisis that the president helped create with his own tariffs.” (07:51)
• Leverage in Global Supply Chains: China’s dominance in rare earths gives it leverage—echoing past actions against Japan.
  • “China controls about 80 to 85% of these railroads, not only because they've got the material, but because they have the refining capability there and we don't.” (10:13)
• US Allies Reconsider: As Trump picks fights with traditional allies, Europe and Canada, some rethink alignment strategies.

3. Russia, Ukraine, and Triangular Diplomacy

(11:13–16:40)

• Russia-China Partnership: Discussion of how Moscow and Beijing—joined at times by Iran and North Korea—coordinate but fall short of formal alliance.
  • David Sanger: “The most interesting geopolitical development...has been the coming together of Russia and China and to a lesser degree, Iran and North Korea...in not an alliance, but a pretty effective partnership.” (12:44)
• US Strategy Gaps: Trump hints at securing deals on nuclear and de-escalation with Putin and Xi, but lacks a clear plan to split Russia and China.
  • “We have not heard the president express that strategy yet. Maybe he can begin to negotiate.” (13:55)
  • “Sometimes there are national interests that outweigh your...economic gains.” (16:20)

4. NATO, Russian Missiles, and Alliance Resilience

(19:24–22:24)

• Russia’s Nuclear Gestures: New missile tests trigger concern at NATO, with deterrence and response options discussed.
  • Julianne Smith: “This alliance monitors very closely all of the activities in Russia as it relates to their strategic forces...I suspect they probably were in emergency session…” (19:24)
• Hybrid Threats: From drones to cyber, evolving “gray zone” tactics test NATO solidarity.
  • “Those gray zone tactics, I'm afraid, are going to keep coming from Moscow.” (22:24)

5. US Sanctions, Russia, and the Changing War in Ukraine

(22:24–26:09)

• New US Sanctions: Trump targets Russia’s top oil companies for the first time in his second term, signaling a sharper approach.
  • Julianne Smith: “I think those sanctions...were absolutely critical to getting Putin's attention.” (23:00)
• Diplomatic Overtures: Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev claims peace is near, but Smith remains skeptical without direct word from Putin.
  • “I will believe that they are serious about an end to the war...when we hear it directly from President Putin.” (25:27)

6. Evolving Global Alliances and US Grand Strategy

(26:09–33:40)

• The Authoritarian Alignment: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran’s growing links are a major US concern.
  • Smith: “We need to assemble our own team of democratic allies...work closer with our friends in Europe and the Indo Pacific.” (28:00)
• Allies’ Growing Independence: Europe and Indo-Pacific partners are forming new defense projects—sometimes excluding the US.
  • “There’s now a push by Italy and the UK and Japan to work on creating a sixth generation fighter without the United States...” (30:35)
• US Focus at Home: The renewed emphasis on Western Hemisphere security causes anxiety among allies, who value American engagement elsewhere.

7. Ukraine’s Needs and Frozen Russian Assets

(33:40–35:37)

• Unfreezing Assets: Debate heats up over using frozen Russian funds to support Ukraine as winter approaches.
  • Smith: “This would be a huge shift and give Ukraine a tremendous amount of resources that they desperately need.” (34:16)

8. Polarization and Declining Public Schools in America: Beth Macy Interview

(36:23–50:57)

• Paper Girl: Macy’s memoir paints a portrait of poverty, school decline, and radicalization in rural Ohio.
• Education Crisis: Chronic absenteeism, declining social skills, and deregulated homeschooling plague schools post-Covid.
  • Macy: “They don't know how to human.” (37:18)
  • “Our public schools, which are the foundation of our democracy, are in really rough shape.” (37:39)
• College Access: Pell Grants no longer suffice; working-class students like Silas James face major barriers.
  • “I went to college in 1982...the Pell grant covered my tuition, room and board, my books.... today, that same student...it would only cover 30%.” (40:10)
• Personal and Family Polarization: Macy discusses estrangement and reconciliation with her brother amid political tensions.
  • “At some point, we have to be responsible for the truths that we believe.” (44:45)
  • “You gotta spend time getting to know each other as people again.” (49:10)
• Conspiracy Theories: The radicalization of Macy’s ex-boyfriend, once a liberal, exemplifies the spread and tragic consequences of misinformation.
  • “The Internet killed my dad.” (48:16)

9. Trailblazer in Ballet: Misty Copeland

(51:02–52:55)

• Legacy and Responsibility: Copeland reflects on the importance of Black dancers’ history and her mission to inspire new generations.
  • “It's so important for us to know our history as black people....I am by no means the first black ballerina and the first black dancer. And I wouldn't be here without all of the work of so many black dancers that have come before me.” (51:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David Sanger on US-Japan Relations:

  “The president's been slow in making the shift to understanding Japan as...the aircraft carrier in the middle of the Pacific...” (05:38)

• Julianne Smith on NATO Response:

  “This alliance was designed 75 years ago to defend NATO territory against Soviet and now Russian aggression.” (19:28)

• Beth Macy on Social Decline:

  “They don't know how to human.” (37:18) “Our public schools...are in really rough shape.” (37:39)

• On Policymaking and Allies:

  “I don't always love the image of our friends around the world creating new webs of partnerships without the United States at the table.” – Julianne Smith (31:18)

• Beth Macy on Polarization:

  “The Internet killed my dad.” (48:16) “You gotta spend time getting to know each other as people again.” (49:10)

• Misty Copeland on Legacy:

  “I am by no means the first black ballerina...I wouldn't be here without all of the work of so many black dancers that have come before me.” (52:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump’s Asia Tour & Japan Relations – 00:03–06:45
• US-China Trade and Rare Earths – 06:45–11:13
• Russia-China Geopolitics & US Strategy – 11:13–16:40
• NATO & Russian Nuclear Moves – 19:24–22:24
• US Sanctions on Russia & Ukraine War – 22:24–26:09
• Alliances, Multitheater Threats, and US Focus – 26:09–33:40
• Ukraine’s Need for Frozen Assets – 33:40–35:37
• Beth Macy: Public Schools and Polarization – 36:23–50:57
• Misty Copeland’s Ballet Legacy – 51:02–52:55

Overall Tone & Takeaways

In keeping with Amanpour’s incisive, analytical style, the episode is dense with sober, well-informed commentary. There is a sense of urgency around US foreign policy, the sturdiness of alliances, and the ambiguous trajectory of global rivalries. The voices of guests—especially Sanger and Smith—bring nuanced perspectives, often cautious about the effectiveness of Trump’s diplomacy. The shift to domestic issues in the latter part, through Macy’s heartfelt storytelling and critique of America’s educational and social troubles, grounds the discussion, leaving the listener reflecting on both geopolitical uncertainty abroad and fragility at home.

For listeners seeking comprehensive coverage of US diplomacy, global realignments, and the roots of American polarization, this episode of Amanpour provides both sweeping analysis and personal storytelling—all laced with pointed observations and memorable moments from top guests.