Amanpour: "Royal Earthquake!"

Podcast: Amanpour (CNN Podcasts)
Host: Christiane Amanpour
Date: February 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode examines explosive developments in British royal history—the arrest of former Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office relating to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. The episode features in-depth analysis with journalist Emily Maitlis, who conducted the famous 2019 interview with Andrew. The program also covers escalating US-Iran tension, diplomatic efforts on Iran’s nuclear program with Rafael Grossi (IAEA), the Catholic Church's stance on immigration and conflict with Cardinal Joseph Tobin, and a tribute to the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson with journalist and biographer a' Lelia Bundles.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Arrest of Former Prince Andrew: “A Royal Earthquake”

Guests: Emily Maitlis (BBC journalist)

• Historic Arrest:

  • Former Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten Windsor) arrested—first detention of a senior royal since 1647 (Charles I) ([03:41]).
  • Charges: Suspicion of misconduct in public office tied to allegations of sharing sensitive government information with Jeffrey Epstein during his role as UK Trade Envoy.
  • No sexual offense charges filed; Andrew denies all wrongdoing.

• Immediate Royal and Official Reaction:

  • King Charles, Andrew’s brother, uninformed before arrest; expresses “wholehearted support for investigations… the law must take its course.”
  • UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer: “no one is above the law.” ([03:32]–[04:29])
  • Andrew remains 8th in line to the throne, lives on royal estate (not Royal Lodge).

• Why Now?

  • Emily Maitlis suggests Charles’s stripping Andrew of his title and Royal Lodge six months ago signaled justice should proceed independently.
  • “He is no longer untouchable. …King Charles was indicating six months ago that no one is above the law.” ([04:58]–[06:22])

• Nature of Legal Case:

  • Focus on passing confidential trade or economic information to Epstein, not directly tied to earlier sexual misconduct allegations.
  • “Misconduct in public office is a very, very difficult thing to pin down because it has to show willful wrongdoing.” ([06:56])

• Investigation Scope:

  • 9 UK police forces involved, investigating not just possible information leaks but also flight logs and trafficking allegations at various airports—broader than just the current charge.
  • Observed irony: UK, Norway, France are moving more decisively on Epstein files than the US.
  • Maitlis: “If I was one of those men who was named in depositions… I would not be sleeping very comfortably tonight.” ([09:32]–[10:40])

• Gordon Brown’s Role:

  • Former PM Gordon Brown, who was in office during Andrew’s tenure as trade envoy, submits a memo and calls for urgent re-examination of trafficking claims.
  • “Gordon Brown was a better journalist than all of us, actually.” ([11:30])

Notable Quotes

• Emily Maitlis: “The last time there was an arrest of a royal was 1647…it ended up with the beheading of Charles I.” ([03:41])
• Emily Maitlis: “No one is above the law.” ([06:22])
• Emily Maitlis: “9 police forces investigating the former Prince Andrew right now. That is unheard of.” ([09:32])

2. US-Iran Nuclear Tensions: Diplomacy or Pretext for War?

Guest: Rafael Grossi (IAEA Director General)

• Iran Nuclear Talks and Military Buildup:

  • Pentagon ready for possible strikes on Iran; President Trump convenes “Board of Peace” ([14:01])
  • Ongoing diplomatic efforts in Switzerland with IAEA's direct engagement—a shift toward technical, not just political, negotiations.

• Status of Negotiations:

  • Concrete discussions on specifics: highly enriched uranium (400 kg of 60% enriched uranium), fate of targeted facilities, future activities, and IAEA inspections.
  • Political aspects—sanctions, economic incentives—run parallel but are not IAEA’s focus.
  • Progress: “There is a process which is ongoing, and we are also consulting technically…to make it, you know, solid and viable.” ([17:32])

• Outstanding Issues:

  • US/Israeli demand: zero enrichment. Iran resists, leading to a gap to be bridged via negotiation.
  • Grossi notes heavy fortification and lack of full IAEA access, especially at Isfahan facility, but consensus that nuclear material remains in place.

• Strategic Motivations:

  • US military buildup may be to force concessions, not necessarily regime change.
  • “My impression is…here, whether we are looking at something that has to be comprehensive or not…” ([23:11])

Notable Quotes

• Grossi: "For the first time, the IAEA myself was involved and was present [in the talks]." ([15:31])
• “There is a sense of finality…we were able to talk about very concrete things.” ([15:36])
• “It would be impossible to do anything with that [uranium] material or to check whether it is there or not" without a deal. ([19:42])

3. The Catholic Church: Moral Leadership on Immigration and Global Conflict

Guest: Cardinal Joseph Tobin (Archbishop of Newark, NJ)

• Pope Leo and the “Ashes” of War:

  • Pope Leo, first American pope, emphasizes peace and rebuilding after destruction (“the ashes of international law and justice…ashes of entire ecosystems”) ([25:00])

• Church’s Stand on Immigration:

  • Cardinal Tobin: Participated in an ICE facility service, underscoring “palpable suffering” of detainee women ([28:06])
  • Calls for treating immigrants with dignity, opposing policies that separate or criminalize families.
  • Cites personal and community experiences with deportations and the fear affecting priests and parishioners—even among those with legal status.

• Response to Political Pushback:

  • Tobin responds to Trump's border czar Tom Homan, who criticized the pope’s comments on immigration:
    • “Neither the Pope or myself…make policy for the people of the United States. Our legislators and our elected officials do that. But that does not keep us from viewing reality from the perspective of our own [faith].” ([34:51])

• On the "Board of Peace":

  • Vatican declined participation; supports UN as the global arbiter of conflict ("vote in favor of the United Nations").
  • Vatican’s unique status limits its role on US-led boards.

• On the Power of Kindness:

  • Tobin highlights Pope Leo’s Ash Wednesday message to “fast from violent language…language that hurts and wounds and really doesn’t contribute to the common good.” ([37:27])

Notable Quotes

• Cardinal Tobin: “You have the ability to make choices in life. We say yes to the ones that are life-giving…we say no to things that are short-sighted and would harm.” ([26:16])
• “What I think we all can agree on is the worth of each human being…an essential element of being human as intended by our Creator.” ([30:48])
• On Pope Leo: “He said, Peace be with you, with such clear fervor and emphasis, that peacemaking was going to be an important part of his program…” ([26:16])

4. Tribute: The Life and Legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson

Guest: a' Lelia Bundles (journalist/biographer)

• Reverend Jackson’s Impact:

  • Died at 84; instrumental in reshaping the Democratic Party, building diverse political coalitions, and empowering future Black politicians—including Barack Obama ([39:01])
  • 1984 campaign: "It was as much a crusade as a campaign." ([40:35])
  • Mobilized African American voters, inspired progressive coalition, and stirred unprecedented enthusiasm.

• Challenges and Change:

  • Campaign faced skepticism and racism; Black journalists covered a presidential race for the first time in many cases.
  • Achievements like negotiating the release of Robert Goodman, outshining government efforts.

• Flaws and Complexity:

  • Addressed controversy over Jackson’s use of antisemitic slur; Balanced assessment of legacy as visionary with noted personal and political flaws.
  • “On balance, he is someone who opened doors for other people…changed the way the Democratic Party counted delegates…opened the door for Barack Obama.” ([49:55])

• Policy Legacy:

  • Ron Brown’s proportional delegate reforms enabled broader representation, directly impacting Obama’s nomination path in 2008.

• Enduring Influence:

  • Seen as a visionary who promoted diversity, inclusion, and equality—"a reminder that…new young people…inspired by what he represented, [will be] taking that mantle.” ([52:45])

Notable Quotes

• a’ Lelia Bundles: “He was stirring up that enthusiasm in a way that no one had really done before.” ([42:37])
• “He is someone who opened doors for other people…changed the way the Democratic Party counted delegates…opened the door for Barack Obama.” ([49:55])
• “When you assess the whole person…on balance, he’s a person who was a visionary, who made a huge difference, but he definitely had flaws. You can’t ignore that when you’re looking at the whole man.” ([49:55])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Royal Earthquake Special: Emily Maitlis on Prince Andrew Arrest

  • [03:32] Start of interview
  • [04:58] Significance of King's actions
  • [06:56] Details on alleged misconduct/criminality
  • [09:32] Scope of legal investigations
  • [11:30] Gordon Brown’s intervention

• Iran Tensions: Rafael Grossi, IAEA

  • [15:07] Start of interview
  • [17:32] Breakdown of nuclear negotiations
  • [19:20] Status and location of enriched uranium
  • [21:40] US/Israeli demands and negotiating gaps
  • [23:11] Motivations behind military build-up

• Immigration & The Church: Cardinal Joseph Tobin

  • [25:47] Interview start
  • [26:16] Catholic moral stance and peacemaking
  • [28:06] ICE facility experiences
  • [30:48] Church’s public political statements
  • [34:51] Rebuttal to Trump’s border czar
  • [35:57] Vatican and the “Board of Peace”
  • [37:27] Pope Leo’s message of kindness

• Jesse Jackson Retrospective: a' Lelia Bundles

  • [39:42] Interview start
  • [40:04] Covering Jackson’s campaign
  • [42:37] Campaign’s historic impact
  • [45:18] Diplomatic achievements
  • [46:00] Charisma and communication style
  • [47:05] Legacy for political activists
  • [49:55] Addressing flaws, lasting change
  • [51:16] Path to Obama presidency
  • [52:45] Holistic evaluation of Jackson’s life

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “The last time there was an arrest of a royal was 1647—it ended up with the beheading of Charles I.”
  — Emily Maitlis ([03:41])

• “There is clarity in everybody about what is needed for the agreement to happen…what are the elements of a possible deal? There is absolute clarity.”
  — Rafael Grossi ([15:31])

• “We say yes to the ones that are life-giving…We say no to things that are short-sighted and actually would harm.”
  — Cardinal Joseph Tobin ([26:16])

• “He is someone who opened doors for other people…changed the way the Democratic Party counted delegates…[that] opened the door for Barack Obama.”
  — a’ Lelia Bundles ([49:55])

Tone & Language

The episode balances Amanpour’s signature gravitas and urgency (especially in the royal and diplomatic segments) with the thoughtful, morally anchored tone of Cardinal Tobin and the reflective, rich storytelling of a’ Lelia Bundles. The guests are analytical, candid, and historical in approach, providing both context and meaning for today’s headlines.

Final Notes

A packed episode—historically significant, far-reaching in scope, with thoughtful interviews that unpack not only today’s biggest stories but the human and systemic forces behind the headlines. Essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the seismic shifts reverberating through the UK, the global diplomatic stage, and America’s ongoing struggles for justice and inclusion.