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
125episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Q&A: Greenland, Venezuela & a new era of American Imperialism?
Jan 800:23:52Summary readyChristiane and Jamie are back answering your questions! In regards to Donald Trump's de-facto takeover of Venezuela, they're asked to what extent oil actually incentivised the capturing of Nicolás Maduro, whether the US will seize control of Greenland next, and what impact all this will have on potential peace in Ukraine.They also discuss whether the drip feed release of Epstein files to the public are doing victims more harm, than good.For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod X: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
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Trump 'kidnaps' Maduro and says he’ll run Venezuela: who's next?
Jan 500:42:10Summary readyAfter the New Year began with a coup that shook the world, Christiane and Jamie react to Trump's capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and ask whether it means we're in for another turbulent twelve months in 2026. Christiane reveals how she first heard about the news over the weekend - and questions what message this operation sends to America's adversaries, such as Russia and China. She also gives her reaction to the ongoing protests in Iran, and gives her view on whether Trump is likely to follow through on his threat to intervene if Iranian security forces start shooting protesters. Meanwhile, Jamie explains why overthrowing the Venezuelan government could backfire on the Trump administration, and describes the response he would like to see from world leaders - including America's allies - to the extraordinary events in Caracas. Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-PresentsBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
SummaryBreaking the MAGA spell & a NATO doctrine for journalists? Tina Brown on a turbulent 2025
Dec 2300:38:00Summary readyThe legendary Tina Brown - former editor of Vanity Fair and now the writer of the Substack "Fresh Hell" - joins Christiane for a look back on a year like no other. They unpick Trump's Chief of Staff describing the President as having an "alcoholic's personality" in a recent interview, discuss whether the Epstein Files have been a damp squib, and explain why more billionaires buying media companies is a dangerous trend for democracy.Tina also tells the story of the day Jeffrey Epstein forced his way into her office, predicts what 2026 might hold for the Royal Family, and joins Christiane in giving a final Recommendation of 2025!You can read Tina's Substack here.Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: 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: The future of MAGA, life after Trump, and the FIFA Peace Prize
Dec 1800:23:16Summary readyWith the first cracks in MAGA’s unity beginning to show, Christiane and Jamie are asked what the future of the movement looks like and whether the Democratic Party will be strong enough to take advantage of those cracks and build a lasting majorityAlso on the agenda - the president has threatened to ban several nations from competing in the forthcoming US-hosted FIFA World Cup, as well as claiming he’ll move fixtures away from Democratic states to Republican ones. Is the FIFA Peace Prize that's been awarded to the President an attempt at appeasement?For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod X: https://x.com/AmanpourPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
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2025: The year Trump ripped up the world order?
Dec 1600:30:51Summary readyIn this special episode, Christiane and Jamie sum up the impact Trump has had on the world in 2025 - and discuss whether this was the year the rules-based world order was abandoned for good.They run the rule over a chaotic 12 months in foreign policy, examining Trump's impact on major stories from the war in Ukraine to the Middle East, and from the simmering conflict with Venezuela to how Trump managed to light a fuse under US relations with India.Christiane highlights how deal-making has influenced US policy-making like never before, and Jamie attempts to make sense of why European allies are being treated so harshly, as Trump seems determined to welcome Putin and Russia back into the fold.Later, Christiane and Jamie both have a festive recommendation!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: 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: Caribbean chaos, Hegseth’s future and time to close US bases in Europe?
Dec 1100:27:40Summary readyIn this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked whether the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance between the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand could be disbanded over questions of the legality of Trump's bombing of alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean sea.They’re also asked, given the apparent lack of support for Europe against continued Russian aggression, whether it could be time for all US-European bases to be closed.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod X: https://x.com/AmanpourPod= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
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From terrorist to statesman: Syria's saviour?
Dec 900:38:27Summary readyOne year on from the overthrow of the tyrannical Assad regime, Syrians have hope for their future and new President Ahmed al-Sharaa has become a favourite among world leaders. But Syrian success will depend on his ability to unify a fragmented nation and rescue its dire economy.Reflecting on her exclusive, extended interview with President al-Sharaa over the weekend, Christiane explains what has changed in Syria in the last twelve months, and which questions still need to be answered. Christiane and Jamie also discuss what the President has to say about his terrorist past, and explain why he's furious with Israel. Later, Christiane and Jamie discuss the new Trump National Security strategy, and ask why the President seems to see Russia as a closer ally than America's European partners. And as always, they wrap up with this week's recommendations!Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: 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: Global financial crash, Trump's Mamdani meeting & pardon for Netanyahu?
Dec 400:20:25Summary readyIn this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked about Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to the Israeli president for a pardon from the long-running corruption trial he faces, for which he’s pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and fraud. Is a pardon really in the Israeli public interest, as he claims? They’re also quizzed on the increasingly discussed possibility of another global financial crash. How likely is such a crash and what would its impact on global geopolitics be? Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod X: https://x.com/AmanpourPod= Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social
SummaryIs Pete Hegseth ordering war crimes in the Caribbean?
Dec 200:38:07Summary readyWith Congress now formally looking into accusations that the War Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has asked US forces to carry out illegal orders in the Caribbean, Christiane and Jamie explain the background to the story and examine those allegations in detail. Why does the Trump administration seem so obsessed with launching a full-blown military campaign against Venezuela? And what are the consequences if Hegseth has been ordering his troops to commit war crimes? Christiane also gives her reaction to President Macron's controversial announcement that he is reintroducing military service in France. Decades after most Western nations ended conscription and compulsory national service, she and Jamie discuss whether this is a step that other nations, such as the US and the UK, should follow, given the ongoing threat posed by Russia. Jamie also reveals what Andriy Yermak - Zelensky's recently departed Chief of Staff - was like to work with, and he and Christiane assess whether we are any closer to reaching a genuine peace deal for Ukraine. And as always, they wrap up with this week's Recommendations! Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.comFor more content, please follow us:Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: 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 “bullying” of reporters, the Saudi Crown Prince & arrests over the Epstein Files?
Nov 2700:24:48Summary readyIn this week’s Q&A, in the wake of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia’s meeting with Donald Trump at the White House, Christiane and Jamie are asked how the US should best deal with regimes that, despite condemnable human rights records, remain important strategic allies.They’re also asked why President Trump gets away with his consistently rude treatment of journalists, Christiane noting a recent but already infamous incident in which the President angrily hushed a female journalist: “Quiet, piggy”.Have a question for a future Q&A episode? Send it to: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpodX: https://x.com/AmanpourPod=Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Aman
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