Episode Summary: “Why is Pete Hegseth trying to silence the Pentagon Press?”

Podcast: Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files
Air Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Christiane Amanpour (B), Jamie Rubin (A)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode explores the escalating global disorder, with a deep dive into US-China relations amid a Trump-Xi summit in Korea, and examines the unprecedented efforts by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to restrict press freedom at the Pentagon. Christiane Amanpour and Jamie Rubin, combining journalistic rigor, diplomatic insight, and wry personal anecdotes, analyze the world’s most urgent power struggles while reflecting on the vital importance of a free press in democracy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Is There a “World Order” Anymore?

Timestamps: 00:30–03:00; 05:04–09:22

• No World Order: The hosts question whether a world order exists, suggesting chaos and “a la carte” diplomacy rule the day.
  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 00:30):

    “This jumped up Major, who failed in all his previous jobs, is now the Secretary of Defense. It’s a bit scary.”

  • Quote (Christiane Amanpour, 00:37):

    “We don’t want to live in a world run by an Orwellian Chinese Communist Party where they make the rules... If Trump doesn’t get his act together and get real allies helping him, that’s the direction we’re heading.”

• Trump’s Mixed Foreign Policy Record: Trump touts holding the Gaza ceasefire, new sanctions on Russia, and extracting more NATO/European commitments, but major systemic fragilities remain.

2. US-China Showdown: Trade, Rare Earths, Alliances

Timestamps: 03:04–13:59

• China’s Economic Coercion: The rare earths standoff is discussed as a microcosm of China’s growing willingness to weaponize its dominance.
  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 03:10):

    “China just really put the hammer down and actually threatened to withhold this crucial mineral, the rare earths that are needed in almost every single electronic gear...”

• China’s Backfire Risk: The hosts believe China’s rare earth threat “will backfire big time” by alienating allies and incentivizing a global supply chain rethink.
• Trump’s Transactional Approach: Focusing on economic deals risks missing the larger challenge posed by Xi’s ambitions for strategic dominance.
  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 07:04):

    “The future of our world will be determined whether America’s president lets the Chinese Communist Party and its dominance in the world affect us, or will he make the alliances we need to protect us...”

• Xi Jinping’s China—Not the Same Old Playbook: Xi has reversed reforms, cracked down on liberties, and is consolidating Mao-style control.
  • Quote (Christiane Amanpour, 05:04):

    “He came in and said that wasn’t working. It’s chaotic. I need something that’s completely Mao like, with a bit of economic freedom and liberalization, but none of this sort of reform.”

3. Asia’s Allies and the Value of Coalitions

Timestamps: 09:22–13:59

• Asia Caught in the Middle: Regional allies (Japan, South Korea, others) feel squeezed by the US-China rivalry.
• Japan’s New PM: Sanai Takaichi, the new right-leaning Japanese Prime Minister, represents a tough, Thatcher-style ally for the US.
  • Quote (Christiane Amanpour, 11:24):

    “She’s considered right to far right, a little bit like Giorgia Meloni... I wonder what she might have Something very important to say to Trump about maintaining this alliance, don’t you think?”

• Allies Responding: Japan and Germany have doubled defense spending; Australia is collaborating on rare earths. The hosts underscore that successful alliances remain America’s ace.

4. The Trouble with “Charm Diplomacy”

Timestamps: 13:59–16:06

• Trump’s Personality-Driven Strategy: Both hosts are skeptical Trump’s personal rapport with leaders like Xi or Putin will yield substantive change.
  • Quote (Christiane Amanpour, 13:59):

    “Trump does believe in the power of his own personality... but it is interesting that you say charm, and it’s very true, won’t make its way through to Xi Jinping, but it’s also not making its way through Vladimir Putin.”

  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 15:05):

    “If anybody thinks that Donald Trump can persuade Xi Jinping to persuade Putin to finally recognize that he can’t win this war, I think they’re smoking something.”

• China’s Real Support for Russia: Jamie argues that Xi’s aid is crucial to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, beyond what is publicly acknowledged.

5. Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon: The War on Press Freedom

Timestamps: 16:06–28:34 (Main focus 16:50–26:13)

• Hostile Move Against Journalists: Hegseth (ex-Fox News, self-styled “Secretary of War”) attempts to force journalists to accept Pentagon “gag rules” in order to remain embedded.
  • Quote (Christiane Amanpour, 00:10 & 18:00):

    “Now he’s silenced the press or he’s trying to, forcing them to make a pact with the devil, if you like. As a journalist, I would say that to give up their independence for the price of staying in the Pentagon press pool.”

• Mass Exodus of Mainstream Media: All major outlets (CNN, Fox, MSNBC, NPR) have refused the Pentagon’s terms, opting to cover from outside.
• Dangerous Precedent: The hosts compare Hegseth’s approach to Soviet-era press control, masking it as “leak prevention.”
  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 23:40):

    “Would I have ever done that? I mean, that’s easy. Not in a million years... I believed in the right of journalists to do their job.”

• Personal Anecdote: Jamie recounts defending Christiane from a Serbian government ban, arguing it symbolizes how US officials should defend press freedom.
  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 24:48):

    “I sent our ambassador into the Serbs in Belgrade and said, excuse me, either you approve all the journalists we take on our trip or we’re not coming.”

• Risks of a Silenced Press: The hosts suggest military leaders and officials may now resort to more anonymous leaks, undercutting effective government oversight and public understanding.

6. The Venezuela Crisis & Military Autonomy

Timestamps: 19:06–21:39

• Botched Operations: The US operation to oust Maduro in Venezuela has resulted in violence and resignations due to Hegseth’s mishandling.
  • Quote (Jamie Rubin, 19:06): “Hagseth’s incompetence and failure to lead properly has led, as we’ve talked about, to a resignation of the commander.”
• Power Abuse & Dangerous Precedent: The hosts express grave concern over “murdering people on boats based on your own assessment that they might be drug smugglers.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the state of the world:

  “Forget about a new world order—right now, there’s no world order.” (Amanpour, 00:30)

• On losing press freedom:

  “He’s trying to force [journalists] to make a pact with the devil... to give up their independence for the price of staying in the Pentagon press pool.” (Amanpour, 00:10; 18:00)

• Personal banter amidst gloom:

  “I almost proposed to you in Trinidad, but I waited for Tobago.” (Rubin, 20:41)
  “You did. And then we had to get the ring made smaller in Trinidad.” (Amanpour, 20:45)
  (Light moment, recalling their personal history intersecting with foreign reporting.)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:30] Discussion of world order
• [03:04] China’s rare earth threats and economic coercion
• [07:04] Risks of Trump’s transactional stance with China
• [09:22] Analysis: Asia’s allies, geopolitical pressures
• [12:50] Japan’s new prime minister and rare earth strategies
• [13:59] Trump’s “charm diplomacy” with Xi and Putin
• [16:06] China’s role supporting Russia in Ukraine war
• [16:50] Switch to Pentagon press freedom controversy
• [19:06] Venezuela operation and military resignations
• [23:40] Jamie’s anecdote: defending press access in Serbia
• [26:13] Why muzzling the press will ultimately fail

Closing Recommendations

• Christiane Amanpour recommends her recent podcast on “Changing the Ovarian Cancer Story,” sharing her journey as a three-time survivor, encouraging women to advocate for their health.
  [29:15]
• Jamie Rubin endorses Kathryn Bigelow’s film “House of Dynamite” for its portrayal of government dilemmas and also Lael Brainard’s Foreign Affairs article on the US dollar’s critical global role, urging Americans to understand its importance.
  [30:10]

Tone & Style

The episode alternates between urgent, candid analysis of serious global issues and the hosts’ wry humor and light-hearted asides, reflecting both their on-the-ground experience and their personal connection. They remain fiercely committed to democratic values, with a special defense of press freedom as the episode’s emotional core.