Amanpour – "Putin Provokes Poland, NATO with Drones"
CNN Podcasts | Aired: September 10, 2025
Host: Christiane Amanpour
Episode Overview
This episode of Amanpour focuses on two escalating global crises: Russia's provocative drone incursions into Polish and thus NATO airspace, and Israel's unprecedented airstrike against Hamas negotiators in Qatar, a U.S. ally. Christiane Amanpour speaks with key guests including Senator Elisa Slotkin (D-MI) and historian Jill Lepore to unpack the implications for international security, U.S. foreign policy, and the constitutional framework guiding America's response to demagogic actions. The episode also features an investigative report on a secret SEAL Team 6 operation in North Korea that ended in tragedy.
1. Russian Drones Enter Polish Airspace – What’s at Stake?
(00:01–07:36)
Key Developments
- Russian Drones Shot Down: Poland, a NATO member, shot down several Russian drones that entered its airspace during a large-scale attack on Ukraine.
- NATO’s Response Questioned: Polish officials, backed by UK and other European leaders, see this as a calculated provocation—a test of NATO’s resolve.
- Escalation Risk: The incident is described as a significant escalation, reminiscent of Cold War fears, because Russia’s actions cross into NATO territory.
Reporting from Nick Peyton Walsh (02:45–07:36)
- Scale of the Incident: 19 airspace intrusions, 4 drones shot down, and civilian infrastructure damaged from falling debris.
- NATO Scrambles Jets: Dutch, Polish, and UK jets responded—marking the first defensive action of its kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Possible Motivations: Russia’s Ministry of Defence claims no intention to target Polish sites but does not fully deny deliberate airspace violations.
- Wider Strategy: The incident coincided with a massive drone assault on Ukraine (400 drones).
- International Context: Suggests the Kremlin feels confident, possibly seeing support from China and India after recent summits.
Notable Quote
“Extraordinary to see some of the video, the noises we've become accustomed to hearing over Ukraine... now over NATO territory.”
—Nick Peyton Walsh (06:15)
2. Interview: Senator Elisa Slotkin on NATO, Russia & U.S. Leverage
(07:36–19:48)
NATO’s Dilemma and the U.S. Stance
- Slotkin on Escalation: Calls for a strong response, noting that Putin is "clearly walking all over President Trump."
- Article 4 Consultations: Poland’s move could escalate to an Article 5 situation, automatically obliging NATO collective defense.
Notable Quote
"This is the moment in my mind that we actually do what we've been proposing for the last eight months and do another round of sanctions on the Russians.”
—Senator Elisa Slotkin (10:35)
On Sanctions and Defense
- Sanctions as Immediate Step: Slotkin says bipartisan sanctions are ready but the President is reluctant.
- Stronger Military Posture: Urges more aggressive air defense and deployment along eastern NATO flank.
- US Aid to Ukraine: Push for more air defense systems and aid, citing strong support among Americans, especially Ukrainian-Americans.
Notable Quote
“Putting out a tweet is one thing. Actually changing your posture toward Putin would be something very different.”
—Senator Elisa Slotkin (13:19)
3. The Israel-Qatar Attack: U.S. Policy Crossroads
(13:48–19:48)
The Attack
- Israeli Strike in Doha: Israel bombs an apartment in Qatar targeting Hamas negotiators, a previously unseen escalation in military action against a Gulf state.
- US Reaction: The U.S. was only informed as the operation was underway. The action strains U.S.-Israeli relations, drawing criticism globally.
Slotkin’s Perspective
- Condemnation: Slotkin explicitly condemns the Israeli strike (“Yes, I condemn it” 16:26).
- Risk to Negotiations: Warns the attack pushes a negotiated end to hostilities further out of reach.
Notable Quote
"It opens up sort of a new chapter in the militarization and conflict in that region in general. And it's with an American partner that we have real equities with."
—Senator Elisa Slotkin (16:27)
US Leverage Over Israel
- Arms as Leverage: Slotkin reiterates her willingness to suspend offensive weapon sales to Israel due to humanitarian concerns. She says the President must use direct diplomatic leverage.
Notable Quote
“We have tremendous leverage to have really tough conversations with both allies and adversaries.”
—Senator Elisa Slotkin (17:56)
4. Vision for U.S. Foreign and Security Policy
(19:48–24:35)
Senator Slotkin’s Policy Proposals
- Economic Security First: Shrinking middle class identified as a root cause of domestic instability.
- Tech Arms Race: Calls for a "Manhattan Project for AI" and an Atomic Energy Commission-like structure to regulate artificial intelligence and cyber war risks.
- Updating the Security State: Proposes rewriting the 1947 National Security Act, calling for a new model of “homeland security” that matches cyber era threats.
Notable Quote
“Everything you know about the US government and how we do security is based on something that’s 80 years old. It needs to be rewritten.”
—Senator Elisa Slotkin (21:45)
5. U.S. Constitutional Crisis? – With Jill Lepore
(25:20–37:12)
Defining Crisis
- Is the U.S. in a Constitutional Crisis? Lepore argues it is a “rolling constitutional crisis” due to erosion of people's power to amend the Constitution and the rise of emergency politics.
- Judiciary vs. Executive: Lepore worries about the executive (White House) now acting as “the ultimate arbiter of the meaning of the Constitution,” contrary to founding intent.
Notable Quote
“This White House appears to believe that if the President believes it's constitutional, it is constitutional, that the ultimate arbiter...is the executive branch.”
—Jill Lepore (29:40)
Elites & The Amendment Process
- Changing the Constitution: Highlights America’s uniquely difficult amendment process. Notes failure to pass crucial amendments (e.g., Equal Rights Amendment, Child Labor).
- Loss of Civic Deliberation: Laments that, unlike with jury duty, regular “constitutional conventions” no longer occur, eroding democracy’s skills.
Notable Quote
“We don’t have the capacity to think constitutionally.”
—Jill Lepore (35:35)
- Personal Touch: Lepore shares her family’s tradition of annual “constitutional conventions,” teaching the value of deliberation and consensus-building.
6. Investigative Spotlight: Secret SEAL Team 6 North Korea Mission
(37:59–53:01)
The Mission (2019)
- Objective: Place a listening device in North Korea during denuclearization talks.
- What Went Wrong: A SEAL team missed their drop, encountered fishermen, and, believing they’d been compromised, opened fire and killed North Korean civilians—then covered up the incident.
Notable Quote
“These are essentially the hardest missions that the government has or asks its soldiers to do.”
—Matthew Cole (41:55)
Accountability
- No True Accountability: Multiple investigations found no misconduct—deaths were ruled justified under the rules of engagement.
- Delayed Congressional Briefing: Congress wasn’t informed until years after the operation, potentially violating notification laws.
- Presidential Plausible Deniability: President Trump denied knowledge, though reporters confirmed his authorization.
Notable Quote
“If the vision and the view of SEAL Team 6 are only their great successes...it’s not like that at all. It’s incredibly difficult...”
—Matthew Cole (48:05)
7. Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes
- “It is a damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” —Christiane Amanpour (10:00), summarizing NATO’s dilemma.
- “He [President Trump] wants the Nobel Peace Prize to solve this long-standing problem. And we seem much further from that today than we did two days ago.” —Senator Elisa Slotkin (15:40)
8. Recurring Themes & Tone
- High Stakes, Urgency, and Frustration: The tone is urgent and, at times, frustrated—especially over delayed policy reactions and the risks of both inaction and overreaction.
- Calls for Accountability: Multiple guests call for real oversight—of both international incidents (Russia, Israel) and covert U.S. operations.
- Sobering Reflection on Democratic Process: Conversations with Jill Lepore highlight the fragility of American constitutional traditions amidst executive overreach and public disengagement.
9. Additional Segments (Briefly Mentioned)
- Hot Air Ballooning Victory: A light closing story on the Gordon Bennett Cup—serving as a brief reprieve from the episode’s heavy themes.
Episode Summary Compiled by Amanpour Podcast Summarizer (2025)
For more in-depth coverage, listen to full interviews at: [CNN Podcasts – Amanpour]