Podcast Summary: Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

Episode: Q&A: Trump vs the BBC, plus Mayor Mamdani & the future of Israel's left

Release Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Christiane Amanpour (B), Jamie Rubin (A)

Episode Overview

In this special bonus Q&A episode, journalist Christiane Amanpour and ex-husband Jamie Rubin respond to listeners' questions on media bias, the role of public broadcasting, the state of the Democratic Party following recent US elections, New York’s new mayor Owais Mamdani, and the future of Israel’s political left post-Rabin. Drawing on their extensive experience in international journalism and statecraft, they dissect each topic with trademark candor, humor, and insight into the world’s increasingly chaotic geopolitics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump, the BBC, and Media Bias

(00:21 - 07:58)

• Splicing and Misrepresentation in the Media

  • Context: The BBC’s “Panorama” was accused of manipulating video of Trump’s January 6 speech, omitting the word “peacefully.”
  • Amanpour: Editing for time and redundancy is normal, “but on no account should anyone be editing and splicing bits and bobs together that willfully and deliberately change somebody’s meaning.” (00:39)
  • She highlights how attacks on the BBC in the UK, and similar attacks on PBS/NPR in the US, are often politically motivated, especially by the right wing post-Brexit and in the Trump era.

• Jamie Rubin’s View on Right-Wing Media Criticism

  • Rubin refers to “the right wing in my country and certainly seen it a bit in Europe, whine endlessly about the media. They just never stop whining.” (02:25)
  • He argues tech industry leaders—“tech bosses, not left wing”—now shape the news ecosystem, and worries most about unregulated social media distorting the public square.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “As they used to say, you’re entitled to your own opinions, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.” (03:45)

• The Role and Importance of Public Service Broadcasting

  • Amanpour calls the BBC “one of the most powerful and editorially and culturally significant content providers.”
  • Public broadcasters serve “the entire country and often are most appreciated in some of the areas that actually tend to vote Conservative.” (06:40)
  • She warns of the danger of dismantling such institutions:

    “Public service broadcasting is absolutely vital and it’s at our peril if we allow it to be destroyed.” (07:53)

• Historical Context & Loss of Regulation

  • Rubin recalls when news was seen as a public service by major networks: “These were people who believed that news was a public service. …not expecting them to make money.” (08:25)
  • Amanpour explains the US Fairness Doctrine and the role of the FCC in ensuring equal time, until deregulation in the Reagan era, paralleling the UK’s Ofcom for broadcasters today.
  • Concerns are voiced over unregulated partisan broadcasters like GB News.

2. Democrats’ Success & Mayor Owais Mamdani

(12:24 - 19:26)

• Balancing Ambition & Pragmatism

  • Question: Should Democrats pull to the center after recent successes, especially in swing regions, to avoid a backlash against progressive policies?

• Jamie Rubin’s Take

  • Celebrates Democratic victories in VA, NJ, and CA, but tempers excitement over Mamdani’s NYC win:

    “I am worried that his first steps out of the box are to emphasize the fact that he’s a socialist, not a social Democrat, but an actual socialist…” (13:03)

  • Rubin stresses practicality:

    “There aren’t enough [millionaires and billionaires]… The real money has to come from the upper middle classes if you want to raise money in America.” (14:45)

  • He argues that success in NYC doesn’t translate nationally, and warns Democrats:

    “We need to appeal to moderates and centrists to get the presidency back, to get the House of Representatives back, to get the Senate back.” (16:18)

• Christiane Amanpour’s Counterpoint

  • She notes that in American discourse, “when you say the word socialist, in America, they say communist.” (14:05)
  • While agreeing that Mamdani might not define the national party, she sees his win as a shift: “He was underestimated during the run for mayor. During the primaries, he beat the establishment candidates…” (17:53)

• Broader Democratic Lessons

  • Amanpour draws comparisons to European debates over wealth taxes: “That’s a factor of democracy around the world right now.” (18:49)
  • Discussion highlights the dangers of over-reading progressive victories and the necessity for broad appeal.

3. The Future of Israel’s Left Post-Rabin

(19:27 - 25:03)

• Yitzhak Rabin’s Legacy

  • Amanpour laments,

    “The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, basically nothing’s been the same since.” (19:46)
    She stresses his credentials as a soldier, statesman, and peacemaker—killed by an Israeli extremist for seeking peace.

• Israeli-Palestinian Stalemate and Leadership

  • Echoes Yuval Noah Harari’s insight:

    “Neither side’s narrative…is 100% right or 100% wrong…The only way to peace is if they listen to each other, if they compromise, and if they realize that each side has a story and each side has ownership of this land.” (21:06)

  • Amanpour uses the phrase “from the river to the sea” to underscore the need for true sharing of the land, referencing contemporary leaders' inability to make peace.

• Rubin’s Analysis & Current Prospects

  • Rubin notes the difficult environment for Israel’s left after the failed Camp David peace talks:

    “Israeli leaders on the left…became discredited by that. And it made it hard for them to win back elections. Now they have moved…in a more anti-peace direction.” (24:00)

  • He argues current regional developments could provide Israel with opportunities for recognition and security—and insists,

    “This is when peace needs to be made.” (24:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Fact-Based Media:

  “The media needs to be fact based…You’re entitled to your own opinions, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.” – Jamie Rubin (03:40-03:45)

• On Public Service Broadcasting:

  “Public service broadcasting is absolutely vital and it’s at our peril if we allow it to be destroyed.” – Amanpour (07:53)

• On US Political Realities:

  “America is built on capitalism, not socialism.” – Jamie Rubin (14:35)

• On the Need for Political Compromise:

  “Neither side’s narrative…is 100% right or 100% wrong…The only way to peace is if they listen to each other, if they compromise…” – Amanpour, paraphrasing Yuval Noah Harari (21:06)

• On the Israeli Left’s Prospects:

  “Israeli leaders on the left…became discredited by that. And it made it hard for them to win back elections.” – Jamie Rubin (24:00)

Recommendations Segment

(25:09 - 27:33)

• Jamie Rubin’s Recommendation:

  • The Leopard (Il Gattopardo), both the novel by Giuseppe di Lampedusa and Netflix adaptation—a historical tale of Sicily’s transformation, praising its beauty and cultural depth.

• Christiane Amanpour’s Recommendation:

  • Multi-part Martin Scorsese documentary on Apple TV, exploring the director’s creative partnership with De Niro and DiCaprio, and his investigation of the American “dark underbelly.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Media: Trump, BBC, Tech & Public Broadcasting: 00:21 – 12:24
• Democrats, Mayor Mamdani, Party Strategy: 12:24 – 19:26
• Israel’s Left, Rabin, Future Peace: 19:27 – 25:03
• Cultural Recommendations: 25:09 – 27:33

Tone & Language

The conversation is brisk, layered with personal anecdotes and good-natured bickering, reflecting the hosts’ shared history. They combine wit (“Techno is music,” quips Amanpour at 02:58) with passionate, sometimes sharp exchanges about political realities, yet always circle back to actionable advice and a deep sense of professional responsibility, particularly towards journalistic integrity and public dialogue.

This episode is a masterclass in explaining media and geopolitical complexity in relatable terms, leaving listeners with a nuanced understanding of current affairs—and the tools for critical analysis.