Podcast
Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files
Hosted by Global · EN
World-renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour and ex-husband Jamie Rubin, a former US State Department official, unpack today’s defining global crises. Drawing on decades of insider experience in global affairs, reporting from conflict zones, and grilling world leaders, they explain how we ended up where we are – and where we might be going.
Forget about a new world order – right now, there’s no world order. From Trump and Putin to the war in Ukraine, China’s global rise, and chaos in the Middle East, geopolitics has never been more dangerous or unpredictable. The Ex Files provides unparalleled insight into the issues keeping world leaders, and the rest of us, awake at night.
With searing honesty, jaw-dropping stories, and candid humour, this is the foreign policy podcast for our fractured age. They’re no longer married, but when it comes to current affairs, Christiane and Jamie still finish each other’s sentences.
Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com
109episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Q&A: Musk the trilionaire, the two-state solution and is Trump cashing in?
4d ago00:31:59Summary readyElon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire - but should we celebrate or worry? Christiane and Jamie debate how his leap from electric cars and SpaceX into owning the public square, gutting USAID, and bankrolling Europe's far right represents a concentration of power no single individual should hold. They also examine whether Trump's final-term decisions are driven by ideology or personal business interest, and why "might makes right" seems to define every corner of this presidency.Plus, with hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers now in the West Bank and a campaign of violence forcing Palestinians from their homes, is the two-state solution already dead? And as the UK announces an Australia-style social media ban for children, Christiane and Jamie discuss why it's urgently needed – and why America will probably never do it.This episode was recorded on the 15th June 2026.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ nordvpn.com/theexfiles Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌍
SummaryWho won the Iran War?
6d ago00:41:07Summary readyThe war in the Middle East has stopped, but can either the US or Iran genuinely claim victory? Christiane and Jamie unpick what the Memorandum of Understanding actually includes, what it conspicuously leaves out, and why the deal could still collapse if the two sides can't agree on the nuclear question long-term.Christiane reveals what her contacts inside Iran are telling her about the potential for peace, and she and Jamie ask whether the Islamic Republic's new regime is actually more hardline than the one it replaced.Plus: Russia has just launched devastating airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and cultural sites in what some see as a sign of Putin's growing desperation. With world leaders gathering at the G7 this week, can they persuade Trump to turn his attention to ending that war now the Iran crisis is on hold?Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ nordvpn.com/theexfiles Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌍
SummaryQ&A: CBS under attack, Iran's ransom price and has Mamdani delivered?
2w ago00:24:43Summary readyIs the gutting of 60 Minutes leading us down a dangerous path? Christiane doesn't hold back on what CBS's parent company is doing to one of the most successful news programmes in television history.Plus, a Lebanese listener asks the question at the heart of the Middle East crisis: is it cheaper to pay off Iran and its proxies than to keep fighting? Christiane and Jamie unpack why the war in Lebanon won't end while Israel refuses to deal, and whether the Trump administration has the diplomatic expertise to broker real peace.Christiane and Jamie also discuss whether Mayor Mamdani is really delivering for New York, and explain why the UN can't act on America's energy blockade of Cuba.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
SummaryIs Israel trapped in a Forever War?
2w ago00:39:04Summary ready20:28 33:12Christiane was in Beirut until last Sunday. By the time she arrived back in London, the Lebanese capital was once again under Israeli bombardment and the Middle East ceasefire appeared on the verge of collapse.In this episode, Christiane reveals what Lebanese President Joseph Aoun exclusively told her about Israel's ongoing war with Hezbollah and Iran's continued grip on his country. She and Jamie trace Hezbollah's history as an Iranian proxy force, its decades of conflict with Israel, and whether Lebanon now holds the key to a wider peace deal in the region.They also react to reports of furious recent phone calls between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and ask whether the US-Israeli relationship has been permanently damaged by the ongoing conflict.And you can watch Christiane's recommendation for this week here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G4lEEqEzpQChristiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
SummaryQ&A: Trump’s dealmaking “mastery”, capitalism vs democracy & do sanctions work?
3w ago00:21:11Summary readyOn this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked whether Donald Trump’s self-styled reputation as a master dealmaker stands up to scrutiny, as US-Iran talks drag on with bold claims but little progress. They also discuss the French navy’s interceptions of Russian oil tankers accused of skirting sanctions, and whether others should follow suit.They explore the effect that gerrymandering, and the wider capitalist system, has on American democracy, both politically and morally, before analysing claims that Elon Musk interfered in the 2024 election. What can democracies realistically do to protect themselves from the billionaires?Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialExclusive INCOGNI Deal: To get our exclusive discount on your annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/theexfiles 🛡️
SummaryDoes Putin want to start a war with NATO?
3w ago00:38:15Summary readyAfter a Russian drone struck a building inside NATO member Romania, Christiane and Jamie ask the question on every western leader's mind: does Putin actually want a direct confrontation with the alliance? They examine whether the incident was a reckless accident or a calculated provocation, potentially a deliberate test of NATO and Europe's willingness to respond. What does it tell us about Russia's escalation strategy, and how should the West react?Later, they turn to US domestic politics and the growing debate within the Democratic Party over Israel. With criticism of Israeli military operations and settler violence intensifying, Christiane and Jamie discuss whether Democrats should adopt a significantly tougher stance, and what the political consequences of doing so might be.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialExclusive INCOGNI Deal: To get our exclusive discount on your annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/theexfiles 🛡️
SummaryQ&A: The Pope’s AI warning, Iran at the World Cup & is Russia still meddling in US politics?
4w ago00:30:15Summary readyThis week, Christiane and Jamie discuss Pope Leo’s warning that AI could end up starting more wars, and ask whether the technology now poses a genuine threat to the future of humanity. They also look at the politics around this summer's FIFA World Cup - which will see Iran play matches in the US - as the war in the Middle East shows no sign of ending.Christiane & Jamie also revisit Russia’s interference in the 2016 US Presidential election and discuss whether Moscow is still meddling in American politics today, even while at war with Ukraine. They also unpack the long-running ambiguity of US policy on Taiwan, before turning to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s current political troubles and whether a change in leadership could strengthen the UK on the world stage.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialExclusive INCOGNI Deal: To get our exclusive discount on your annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/theexfiles 🛡️
SummaryTrump strikes Iran again: a sign of desperation?
4w ago00:35:31Summary readyThe Iran ceasefire hangs by a thread after the latest round of US strikes on Iranian military sites and IRGC boats. Is this a sign that Trump is about to restart the war? Or is it that the President is becoming increasingly desperate to end the conflict he probably regrets starting three months ago? Christiane & Jamie unpick how Trump has backed himself into such a tight corner, and whether it's now inevitable that the US emerges from this war in a weaker position than when it started.Later, Christiane delivers a powerful reaction to a recent report that the US & Israel originally planned to install the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the new leader of Iran - and she explains why this proves that there was no proper strategy for this conflict. Christiane & Jamie also discuss why Bibi Netanyahu is putting so much pressure on Trump to keep fighting, and whether Trump still has the authority to tell Israel what to do.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialExclusive INCOGNI Deal: To get our exclusive discount on your annual Incogni plan, go to https://incogni.com/theexfiles 🛡️
SummaryQ&A: Trump's mental health, Epstein files accountability & Israel's death penalty
May 2100:24:54Summary readyWith growing numbers of doctors and experts publicly questioning the president's mental fitness, Christiane and Jamie tackle the most uncomfortable question in American politics: is Donald Trump losing it? Then, Christiane and Jamie are asked about the Epstein files and why justice for the women and children who were abused is yet to be served. They also examine Israel's controversial new death penalty law for Palestinians and debate whether the October 7th attacks can justify such a measure. And to mark their first podcast anniversary, Christiane and Jamie revisit a row from their marriage over Iraq sanctions.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.
SummaryIran, Cuba, Greenland: does Trump have a plan, or just a list of places to conquer?
May 1500:37:01Summary readyAfter a bruising few months of war, and with his ratings at an all-time low, could Trump be about to target Cuba? Christiane & Jamie dissect the President's recent visit to China and explain why he was unable to make any progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, plus they reveal why he might be planning to indict the former Cuban President Raul Castro.They also look at Trump's ongoing struggle to end the Iran War, and unpick whether other world leaders are still paying any attention to his threats. Later, Christiane reacts to reports that the US is demanding a major role in running Greenland and explains why this has the potential to reignite long-running tensions with America's European allies.Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.Follow us on social media @amanpourpodFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.socialEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ nordvpn.com/theexfiles Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee 🌍EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/theexfiles Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Summary