Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

Q&A: Greenland, Venezuela & a New Era of American Imperialism?
Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Christiane Amanpour & Jamie Rubin

Episode Overview

In this candid and wide-ranging Q&A episode, world-renowned journalist Christiane Amanpour and her ex-husband, former US State Department official Jamie Rubin, tackle listener questions on some of the world’s flashpoint crises: the status of Greenland amid US interest, the implications of the US intervention in Venezuela, and the ripple effects of American foreign policy under President Trump’s second term. Drawing on decades of experience in journalism and diplomacy, Amanpour and Rubin offer forthright insights, personal anecdotes, and sharp analysis—pulling no punches about the chaos, unpredictability, and moral dilemmas defining today’s geopolitics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Greenland & US Ambitions – The Limits of Power

Timestamps: [00:13] - [03:52]

• Listener Question: Probability of Greenland staying under Danish jurisdiction given recent American assertiveness and the precedent set in Venezuela.
• Jamie Rubin:
  • Assesses Danish sovereignty over Greenland as "very, very high" ([00:41]).
  • Sees Trump using strong-arm tactics for leverage (mineral rights, military bases), but dismisses outright US annexation:

    “…I don't see US Troops landing in Greenland and taking it over.” ([01:49])

  • Notes the erosion of traditional checks and balances under Trump’s "imperial presidency."
• Christiane Amanpour:
  • Describes provocative US political rhetoric, such as posts with Greenland emblazoned with American flags, which has sparked pushback from Nordic leaders ([01:54]).
  • Cites a Republican insider:

    “Trump doesn't really have any economic philosophy or governing philosophy or foreign policy philosophy. It's all about, I want what you have.” ([02:41])

  • Argues Trump’s approach is driven by personal and economic opportunism, targeting resource-rich countries.

2. Venezuela – Legality, Legitimacy, and Fallout

Timestamps: [04:37] - [08:45]

• Listener Question: Did Trump’s Venezuela intervention do good, or was it simply illegal?
• Christiane Amanpour:
  • Outlines legal gray areas—US lawyers defending Trump, but “other[s] say it’s completely illegal under UN regulations and American law” due to lack of congressional approval ([04:49]).
  • Weighs suffering Venezuelans’ hopes for change against the risks and complexities of regime change:

    “…you intervene, you remove a leader, and that's that. It takes a lot of dedication... who runs the police, what about... the food supply, all of those things, electricity, the basics that have been completely collapsed…” ([05:42])

• Jamie Rubin:
  • Emphasizes skepticism, both about legality and the wisdom for US foreign policy:

    “…these legal mumbo jumbo that comes out sometimes from both sides, frankly, is very hard for non-lawyers to get their handle on… But on its surface, it doesn't look legal to me.” ([06:31])

  • Notes long-term damage to alliances:

    “…when we do things like this, we make it almost impossible for our friends and allies to trust us…” ([07:29])

  • Stresses the risk of US losing global focus as China makes careful, methodical economic advances in Latin America.

3. Ukraine – American Disengagement, Russian Stubbornness

Timestamps: [08:45] - [13:51]

• Listener Question: Does the Venezuela intervention make a Ukraine peace deal in 2026 more or less likely?

• Christiane Amanpour:

  • Contrasts the administration’s rhetoric ("Ukraine is losing") with facts on the ground:

    “...the Trumpies have taken it as gospel that Ukraine is losing and will lose... And that has been their talking point... It is wrong. It is absolutely wrong...” ([10:16])

  • Laments the loss of momentum for meaningful negotiations, due to US withdrawal of support.

• Jamie Rubin:

  • Pessimistic about a peace deal in 2026:

    “I don't see a peace deal in 2026… this war is about Vladimir Putin's decision to invade and his stubborn refusal to see the fact that he cannot succeed…” ([11:02])

  • Explains support for Ukraine likely continues but will be insufficient for major change.
  • Details bandwidth issues: Key US officials, notably Rubio, are overextended ("declared the Viceroy" of Venezuela), meaning “he’s not gonna be able to do all that,” harming prospects for complex diplomacy elsewhere ([12:42]).

• Memorable Exchange:
  Amanpour: “It is tragic. It really is tragic.” ([13:51])

4. Epstein Files – Disclosure, Justice, and Political Fallout

Timestamps: [14:34] - [17:14]

• Listener Question: Has revealing the Epstein files harmed victims more than it’s helped?
• Christiane Amanpour:
  • Acknowledges mixed reactions among victims and advocates.
  • Argues that relentless coverage can be traumatizing, but also necessary for accountability:

    “…I just hope it ends up doing the right thing and causing the trend to go down rather than up of sexual abuse.” ([16:26])

• Jamie Rubin:
  • Notes the politicization: “It’s become biggest political football around... the victim's judgment will not be the decisive factor.” ([16:54])
  • Highlights splits among MAGA Republicans.

5. Press Freedom, Leaks, and Documenting Journalism

Timestamps: [18:01] - [22:25]

• Listener Question: Opinions on documentaries about reporters’ methods (Seymour Hersh), and would Amanpour participate in something similar?

• Christiane Amanpour:

  • Praises Hersh’s legacy, cautions against forced disclosure of sources.
  • Supports journalistic transparency where appropriate, but draws a line to protect investigative processes ([18:34]).

• Jamie Rubin:

  • Warns that press freedom, “the most important” of constitutional rights, is under threat from corporate and political pressure:

    “…the corporations, who unfortunately control much too much of our media, have bent the knee to the Trump administration…” ([19:20])

  • Shares personal experience as Asst. Secretary of State: Most leaks are not subversive but come from “playeritis”—people wanting to feel important ([20:08]).
  • Points out that exclusive scoops usually result from old-fashioned, relentless reporting.

• Amanpour’s Warning: The sidelining of real journalists in Washington leads to missed opportunities for critical coverage (“Did that cause us all to miss a trick about what the Pentagon was planning in Venezuela?” [22:25]).

  • Calls attention to a new breed of “influencers and sycophants” replacing seasoned press corps representatives.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Jamie Rubin ([01:49]):

  “I don't see US Troops landing in Greenland and taking it over.”

• Christiane Amanpour ([02:41]):

  “Trump doesn't really have any economic philosophy or governing philosophy or foreign policy philosophy. It's all about, I want what you have.”

• Christiane Amanpour ([05:42]):

  “…it takes a lot of dedication, a lot of hard work... all the bits like who runs the police, what about the water, what about, you know, the food supply, all of those things, electricity, the basics…”

• Jamie Rubin ([07:29]):

  “...when we do things like this, we make it almost impossible for our friends and allies to trust us...”

• Christiane Amanpour ([10:16]):

  “...the Trumpies have taken it as gospel that Ukraine is losing and will lose... It is absolutely wrong because as we've seen that given the right help, Ukraine can defend itself...”

• Jamie Rubin ([11:02]):

  “I don't see a peace deal in 2026… this war is about Vladimir Putin's decision to invade and his stubborn refusal to see the fact that he cannot succeed…”

• Christiane Amanpour ([16:26]):

  “...I just hope it ends up doing the right thing and causing the trend to go down rather than up of sexual abuse.”

• Jamie Rubin ([19:20]):

  “…the corporations, who unfortunately control much too much of our media, have bent the knee to the Trump administration and affected what we read, see and hear.”

Other Memorable Moments

• The “Viceroy of Venezuela” riff ([12:42])—a satirical take on the ballooning titles of American officials, lampooning the chaos of US foreign policy management under the current administration.
• Amanpour’s reflection on how the removal of real journalists from the press corps may have blinded the public to Pentagon intentions in Venezuela ([22:25]).

Conclusion

This episode is a no-holds-barred exploration of the political and moral uncertainties gripping the global order in 2026. Amanpour and Rubin’s insider knowledge and candid style shine through as they parse the consequences of American interventionism, reflect on press freedom under siege, and offer a sobering look at potential futures in hotspots like Ukraine and Venezuela. Their dynamic—combining humor, frustration, and searing honesty—makes for both an enlightening and entertaining listen, especially for those seeking more than headlines.

For further queries or to submit questions, listeners are invited to connect via social media (@AmanpourPod) or email.