Amanpour

US President Biden paid a surprise visit to Kyiv this morning to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s large scale invasion of Ukraine. The trip comes just after a heated Munich Security Conference where US Vice President Kamala Harris formally accused Russia of crimes against humanity. At the conference, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke to Christiane about what his country needs as the war enters its second year. Also on today's show: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; Political Anthropologist Dr. Eric Reinhart To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been nearly a year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and there's no end to the war in sight. Today at the Munich Security Conference, President Zelensky said Ukraine was fighting so the west doesn’t have to. As leader of Europe’s economic powerhouse Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has huge influence over whether Ukraine gets the support it needs, he speaks with Christiane about whether they’re ready to back Ukraine’s defense for the long-haul. Also on today's show: UK Foreign Minister James Cleverly; six-time US Paralympian Champion Oksana Masters; author Erica Gies To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At a time when global democracy is under pressure, this month’s elections in Nigeria could prove critical. Africa’s largest economy is at a turning point, with the population growing and getting younger, and the results there could have a major impact globally. One of Nigeria’s best known public figures is the novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and she speaks with Christiane about the prospect of change in Nigeria and about having the courage to speak up against censorship on all sides of the political spectrum. Also on today's show: Jere Van Dyk, Author, “Without Borders”; Sharon Liese & Cynthia Wade, Directors, “The Flagmakers” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Exposing autocracies is Nicaragua and Russia It’s a dirty trick used by autocracies across the world: taking their would-be opposition off the street and throwing them in jail, stopping any other presidential candidacy from taking root. Tonight, we look at Nicaragua and Russia, where those tactics have been employed by the countries’ rulers. First, to Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega’s drive to stay in power has grown increasingly repressive over the years. He’s put hundreds of political prisoners behind bars, but on Thursday – in a surprise and cynical move – he simply got rid of them. 222 prisoners were freed and then essentially deported to the United States, stripped of their citizenship and banned from ever running for public office. Among them were Julian Sebastian Chamorro and Felix Maradiaga. They both had presidential ambitions, before being put behind bars, and they join the show from DC. Next, to Russia, and another imprisoned democracy activist: opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Few people know Navalny better than our next guest, Maria Pevchikh, who has worked with him for a decade and was with him in Siberia when he was poisoned. Also on today's show: Derek Kilmer and William Timmons from the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US, the UK and Europe are condemning the Israeli government’s plans to permit 10,000 new settlement units in the occupied West Bank, arguing it will “undermine efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution.” It’s just the latest as Israel’s new far-right coalition faces a barrage of criticism, including from Washington – normally Israel’s staunchest ally. Tens of thousands of protesters have been in the streets of Jerusalem this week to protest the proposed judicial reforms, and correspondent Hadas Gold brings us her report from the ground. Also on today's show: Exclusive interview with Yael German, former Israeli ambassador to France; Robert Ford, former US ambassador to Syria; Bill Browder, Hermitage Capital Management CEO To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than 36,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured by the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria one week ago. There’s anger at the pace of rescue and aid, especially in Syria, already ravaged by the civil war – President Bashar al Assad is accused of limiting humanitarian efforts in areas that were already devastated by Syrian and Russian bombings. Of course, Russia has been focusing its own firepower on Ukraine more recently, also striking critical infrastructure in that country. Indeed, more than 65,000 war crimes have been reported in Ukraine, with the western alliance committing to investigations and accountability. Beth Van Schaack is U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice and joins the program from a major refugee camp in Bangladesh. Also on today's show: Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang; Kristofer Goldsmith, Founder, Task Force Butler Institute To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christiane is in Washington DC, where today the US and Brazilian presidents meet to kickstart a new relationship after the divisive Trump and Bolsonaro era. Joe Biden and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva agree they need to bolster democracy, advance human rights and tackle climate change – but there’s tough work ahead. Lula has staged a stunning return to power after his first presidency ended in 2010 and he was jailed. In an exclusive conversation, Lula tells Christiane he is confident “democracy will prevail.” Also on today's show: US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby; author Tara Bynum To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Europe is welcoming Ukraine’s President Zelensky today with open arms, applauding the wartime leader even as he pushes them to provide more powerful weapons. It’s been nearly one year now since Vladimir Putin brazenly tried to take Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine, but in reality, the Russian offensive has been going on for much longer than that. It was nine years ago in 2014 that Putin invaded and annexed Crimea, spurring an international crisis. Catherine Ashton was Europe’s foreign policy chief at the time. Her new book is And Then What?: Inside Stories of 21st Century Diplomacy, and she speaks with Christiane about Putin’s tactics then and now. Also on today's show: actor Ian McKellen, journalist Julia Ioffe. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The death toll in Turkey and Syria after Monday’s earthquake is rising, though survivors – including children – are still emerging from the rubble. Correspondent Salma Abdelaziz reports on the desperate efforts to get more help for the already war-torn Syria. Also on today's show: David Miliband, Former UK Foreign Secretary; Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iranian human rights lawyer; Martin Wolf, Author, “The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a race against time in Turkey and in Syria where a massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck on Monday. Rescue teams are working around the clock in freezing conditions, trying to find survivors, with the emotion sometimes too much to bear. With more than 6,300 dead and counting, plus over 26,000 injured, it is a daunting task – but nobody is giving up. The world is coming together to help – even Ukraine is sending emergency personnel, and neighboring Greece is jumping into the fray despite sky high political tensions between Athens and Ankara. Sherine Ibrahim is the country director of CARE in Turkey, and she joins the show from Gaziantep, where people are sleeping in cars for fear of further aftershocks. CNN anchor Becky Anderson also joins the show with more on the rescue efforts on the ground. Also on today's show: Toluse Olorunnipa, White House Bureau Chief, The Washington Post; John Hickenlooper, US Senate Democrat; Edward Berger, Co-writer and director, “All Quiet on the Western Front” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The death toll was more than 2,500 and was expected to continue rising after a mammoth 7.8 earthquake -- one of the region's largest in a century -- shook Turkey and neighboring Syria Monday. Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh has the latest. Her report is followed by an interview with Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. Also on today's show: Gen. Philip Breedlove (Ret.), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe; Evelyn Farkas, former US Deputy. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia; Lisa Guerrero, author, “Warrior: My Path to Being Brave” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michelle Yeoh is no fan of glass ceilings. Neither her age, nor her nationality, nor her gender can stop her from taking Hollywood by storm. Fresh off a Golden Globe award for her virtuoso performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Yeoh leads the list of contenders for this year’s Best Actress Oscar. Her star vehicle is an idiosyncratic movie about a Chinese laundromat owner thrust into a mission to save all possible universes. Yeoh joins Christiane in London to discuss the film and her action-packed career. Also on today's show: authors Jihyun Park & Seh-Lynn Chai; Emmy-award winner Eddie Izzard To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The European Central Bank and the Bank of England have raised interest rates again, one day after a similar move by the US Federal Reserve. But amid those big players, Britain seems in particular trouble, with the International Monetary Fund warning it will be the only major economy to shrink in 2023. In the UK, the pain and anger poured into the streets on Wednesday when the country saw its biggest strikes in a decade, with as many as half a million workers walking out, from transport to teachers. There’s little light at the end of the tunnel, with a cost-of-living crisis forcing around four million children into poverty. Correspondent Nada Bashir was there on "walkout Wednesday." Also on today's show: Shevaun Haviland, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce; Stephanie Flanders, Senior Executive Editor, Bloomberg; Gina Prince-Bythewood; Director, “The Woman King”; Yascha Mounk; Author, “The Great Experiment” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are gray skies in Memphis today as family and mourners come together to remember Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old whose death at the hands of police sparked renewed protest against this brutality all across the United States. National figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, were in attendance today, together with George Floyd’s brother Philonise and Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor – both victims of police violence. As for attempts to change federal law, the Washington Post reports that “police reform talks are back in Congress, but little hope for a deal.” Jelani Cobb, dean of Columbia Journalism School, joins the show to discuss. Also on today's show: Correspondent Gillermo Galdos reports on the ongoing unrest in Peru; Santiago Mitre, co-writer and director of "Argentina, 1985" and Luis Moreno Ocampo Moreno, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; US House Democrat Chrissy Houlahan and US House Republican Stephanie Bice on the fight for paid family leave. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Antony Blinken is leaving the Middle East after spending two days in the region, as violence between Israelis and Palestinians flares up once again. He is the latest secretary of state to try and navigate a way out of this cycle of despair, while also clinging to the hope and vision of a two-state solution. Diana Buttu is a Palestinian lawyer who has previously advised that negotiating team and she joins the show from Ramallah. Her appearance is followed by Christiane's interview with former US top peace negotiator Dennis Ross, who has served under both Democratic and Republican presidents. Also on today's show: Paul Feig, author of “Cocktail Time!”; Dr. Robert Waldinger, author of "The Good Life" To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Those were the words of Tyre Nichols as five Memphis police officers violently beat him during a traffic stop. He died three days later, leaving the city of Memphis and the country reeling once again, with protesters taking to the streets this weekend in several cities. His name now joins the long list of Black Americans who have died at the hands of police, a painful reminder of the police brutality that continues to blight America. After the death of George Floyd, change was promised – but the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is still stalled in Congress, and activists ask how many deaths it will take. The five police officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death were part of a special unit to tackle rising crime in Memphis, and that “Scorpion Unit” has now been disbanded. There are still many unanswered questions about the officers’ account of what happened that night, as Sara Sidner reports. Also joining the show to discuss the Tyre Nichols killing and its aftermath are Memphis Pastor Earle J. Fisher and UCLA Law Professor Joanna Schwartz. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former presidents and vice presidents will be told to check their personal records for classified documents after some were found at the Indiana home of former vice president Mike Pence. It’s the latest discovery in a growing controversy that has led to many questions, including what actually constitutes a classified document, what the process is when a president leaves office, and whether the system is working. Leon Panetta has served as a presidential chief of staff, defense secretary, and director of the CIA, and joins the show from California. Also on today's show: Dmitri Alperovitch, Co-founder, Silverado Policy Accelerator Think Tank; Kara Swisher, Host, “Pivot” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Afghanistan was facing a humanitarian crisis even before winter set in. Now the country is enduring its coldest weather in 15 years. Freezing temperatures have killed well over 100 people, and as always, the crisis is hitting women and children the hardest – particularly after the Taliban prohibited women from working for aid organizations, effectively denying them critical assistance. In the past weeks, multiple delegations from the United Nations and other aid groups have traveled to Kabul to press for women’s basic rights to work and learn. Tonight, Christiane speaks with Amina Mohammed and Sima Bahous, two of the UN’s most senior officials who have just returned from Afghanistan where they tried to get the Taliban to change its mind. Also on today's show: Andrew Solomon, Author, “Far from the Tree”; Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr., Co-author, “A Few Days Full of Trouble” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After days of transatlantic wrangling and who’s-on-first gamesmanship, Ukraine receives a double whammy, with both the United States and Germany publicly pledging to send advanced tanks ahead of a projected Russian spring offensive. The past few days have also brought a corruption scandal out into the open, as Kyiv purges several senior officials, including the deputy defense minister. Tonight, Christiane speaks with his boss, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. Also on today's show: Ronen Bergman, Staff writer, The New York Times Magazine; Martin Griffiths, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; Rev. Liz Walker, Co-founder, Embrace Boston & Hank Willis Thomas, Artist, “The Embrace.” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine’s President Zelensky may be the world’s most famous wartime leader, but his ability to mobilize his country in the fight of its life wasn’t what got him elected; his pledge to fight corruption did. Now, Zelensky is purging his own government in a growing scandal linked to the unlawful procurement of wartime supplies. Historical corruption, of course, is a primary reason Ukraine had not been admitted to the European Union, and the major government shakeup is happening just as Ukraine looks likely to receive long-awaited German-made tanks from Poland. To discuss all this, Christiane speaks with former US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor. Also on today's show: Stephen Rubin, author, Words and Music; Richard Haass, author, The Bill of Obligations. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An unseemly split over tanks risks the ironclad unity the NATO alliance has demonstrated in support of Ukraine. Among some allies – led by Britain, Poland, Finland, and the Baltic nations – there is a sense of striking while the iron is hot, before Russia regroups for an expected spring offensive. At the heart of the drama is the German Leopard 2 tank, which is top of Ukraine’s wish list. But the German chancellor is dragging his feet. More than a dozen countries own those tanks, including Poland, which says it will send its Leopards to Ukraine. But it would need Berlin’s sign-off. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby joins the show from the White House to discuss what military support Ukraine is getting – and what more the alliance can deliver. Also on today's show: Marcin Przydacz, Foreign Policy Adviser to Polish president; Delia Ephron, author, Left on Tenth. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The US has spent billions and billions so far in Ukraine, but future government spending is all up in the air right now – not just over Ukraine, but also at home, as America has now reached its debt limit and risks a potentially catastrophic default. Social security payments, veteran’s pensions, and more are all at risk. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says “extraordinary measures” are now in use to delay default, and she’s calling on lawmakers to “act promptly” to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. Yellen met this week with China’s vice premier in Zurich, before traveling to Africa, where she is hoping to expand US trade there. Christiane speaks with Yellen about all of this in an exclusive interview. Also on today's show: Dr. Henry Marsh, Author, And Finally; Karen Bass, Los Angeles Mayor; Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand Prime Minister (archived interview). To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 119th Congress is getting into full swing and we’re starting to see what the impact of a divided government looks like. GOP hardliners Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar were given committee assignments, despite being tossed off committees last term for incendiary language and ideas. The alleged fabulist George Santos also got a committee assignment, despite growing calls for his resignation. All this as the country moves full steam ahead into a fight over the debt limit, risking a US default that could have disastrous consequences for the American – and global – economy. First in tonight’s show, we take a step back with a revealing look at President Biden and his first two years in office. Chris Whipple joins the show from New York to discuss his new book, The Fight of His Life, based on inside access to the Biden administration. Also on today's show: Composer Alan Fletcher and pianist Mikhail Voskresensky; Charlie Sykes, Editor-at-Large, The Bulwark. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For nearly a year, so much blood has flood through Ukraine under withering Russian fire that tragedy is never far away. Today brought more sorrow, as a Ukrainian helicopter crashed near a kindergarten in the Kyiv region, killing a government minister and at least three children, among others. President Volodymyr Zelensky calls it a “terrible tragedy” and says there will be an investigation. CNN Senior International Correspondent Fred Pleitgen joins the show from the helicopter crash site. Also on today's show: Rafael Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency; Rose Abramoff, earth scientist and climate activist; Ro Khanna, US House Democrat. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska opened the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland today with a stark warning about the horrors and mass killings her people are facing. The war is the number one topic at the summit, though leaders will also discuss climate change and the cost-of-living crisis. But will the forum be more than just a talking shop? One voice in attendance carries a lot of weight: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was recently named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine. She joins Christiane from Davos. Also on today's show: Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Joe Berlinger, Director, Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Russian missile strike on an apartment building in Dnipro, Ukraine has left at least 40 people dead, making it one of the deadliest single attacks of the war. Ukrainian authorities report that it was a cruise missile. The current wave of attacks on civilian targets comes at a make-or-break moment in this vicious war, as more western allies – including Britain, France, and Poland – promise to send Kyiv tanks and other advanced weapons. But is it happening fast enough to help Ukraine defend itself against feared Russian offensives this spring? Igor Zhovkva is a top aide to President Zelensky and joins the show from Kyiv. Also on today's show: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi; International Civil Society; author Ilya Somin. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A political scandal is brewing over the discovery of classified documents at President Biden’s Delaware home and former office, dating back to his time as vice president. A special counsel has been appointed to investigate, and Republicans are using the opportunity to slam Democrats as hypocrites. The president was highly critical of Donald Trump when classified documents were found at his Mar-a-Lago home last year. There are some key differences though: Trump had refused to return the files, even after being subpoenaed, while Joe Biden’s lawyers turned the materials over voluntarily and the White House has promised to cooperate fully. But it’s still a political headache for the president. To explain the legal implications and more, former federal and state prosecutor Elie Honig joins the show. Also on today's show: California Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis; Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council; Dr. Francesca Beaudoin, Director, The Long Covid Initiative at Brown University. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When top soccer journalist Grant Wahl left for Qatar to cover the World Cup in November, his wife, Dr. Céline Gounder, never thought it would be the last time she would see him. The 49-year-old American reporter died suddenly of an aortic aneurism after collapsing in the press box at the end of a match. To add to the tragedy, many on social media falsely blamed Grant’s death on Covid-19 vaccines. Dr. Gounder is an epidemiologist and knows how difficult it is to debunk conspiracy theories. But when the same playbook was used to blame Damar Hamlin’s recent collapse during an NFL game, she says, “the dam broke,” and she decided to write a public essay to try and put an end to the rumors and “refocus attention on Grant’s legacy.” Christiane speaks with Dr. Gounder about how she is managing to channel her grief into purpose in the saddest of circumstances. Also on today's show: US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, author Robert Kagan. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During this long winter of war in Ukraine, in the eastern town of Soledar – near Bakhmut – every inch of land is contested. Russian mercenaries in the Wagner Group claim they’ve conquered the entire territory, but Ukraine says they’ve been “unsuccessful.” While the Kremlin is playing musical chairs with its war commanders – naming its most senior general Valery Gerasimov to replace Sergei Serovikin after just three months – the US and its allies are “positioning Ukraine to be able to move forward and retake territory,” according to a senior Pentagon official. Another says the upgrade in weapons they are providing gives Ukraine a “much more powerful offensive capability.” But still, both sides rely heavily on Soviet-era artillery, as Ben Wedeman reports from the eastern front. Also on today's show: Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the US; Sarah Polley, writer/director of Women Talking; former NFL player Nate Jackson, whose career was ended by injury. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The struggle to protect democracy is once again in the spotlight amid the fallout from a violent insurrection against Brazil’s government institutions Sunday by supporters of ousted President Jair Bolsonaro. New President Lula da Silva has vowed to punish those responsible, but with divisions running so deep in Brazil – a country where disinformation is rife – he has his work cut out for him. Celso Amorim is a former foreign minister of Brazil and advises the current president, and he joins the show from the presidential palace in Brasilia, which was also ransacked. Also on today's show: Susan Glasser, coauthor of The Divider: Trump in the White House; famed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin; actor Hugh Jackman. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Sunday, insurrectionists stormed Brazil’s congress and the supreme court, also marching on the presidential palace in the capital Brasilia. Eerily, it happened around the January 6th anniversary of the storming of the US Capitol. The insurgents are supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who in turn has modeled himself on Donald Trump. President Biden sent a message to the country’s elected President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, saying Brazil’s democracy has America’s full backing. Hundreds have been arrested since the attack, and the president vows those responsible will be held accountable. Correspondent Rafael Romo brings us the latest. Also on today's show: US House Democrat Delia Ramirez; journalists Anderson Cooper and Emily Maitlis; former NAACP president Ben Jealous. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today marks the second anniversary of the attack on the Capitol on January 6th 2021. It’s a solemn occasion that President Biden is marking by awarding the Presidential Citizens Medal to 12 individuals who have defended U.S. democracy – many of them are Capitol police who faced the rioters two years ago. Meantime Congress faces a new crisis, not seen in 164 years: after three days, the House of Representatives remains speaker-less as the Republican majority struggles to overcome bitter divides. Their leader Kevin McCarthy is trading away more and more power to garner the support of some stubborn holdouts – but even if this strategy pays off, what he’s giving away could make Congress almost unmanageable. To discuss, we’re joined by Robert Draper, who has been reporting from the Capitol all week and is author of Weapons of Mass Delusion: When the Republican Party Lost Its Mind, as well as former Democratic congressman Mondaire Jones, who was at the Capitol during the attack two years ago.Also on today's program: Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar and contributing writer for The New Yorker Luke Mogelson. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a once-in-a-generation season of discontent in the United Kingdom. The soaring cost of living is creating a giant inequality gap, with welfare unable to keep up for the most vulnerable and the poorest. Many people are literally having to choose whether to eat or heat this winter. Britain is also facing the chaos of mass strikes from sectors like rail, mail, paramedics, and more. The British chancellor is warning the country’s economy will get worse before it gets better. Gordon Brown knows the stakes well. He served as chancellor under Tony Blair before becoming prime minister and is credited with coordinating the global response to the 2008 financial crisis. He’s also led agreements on tackling poverty and climate change and is now a special United Nations envoy on global education and health. He joins Christiane to discuss all this, as well as pressing international issues. Also on today's show: Dror Moreh, director of The Corridors of Power; Garrett Fisher, founder of the Global Glacier Initiative. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden was in Kentucky today, touting last year’s massive infrastructure bill alongside Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. It’s that kind of bipartisanship that’s necessary to support the defense of democracy in Ukraine, whose foreign minister said today that preparations are underway to receive America’s Patriot air defense systems. This after Washington pledged another $45 billion in emergency assistance over the holidays. Every day that aid becomes more critical, as President Zelensky says Russia is digging in for the long haul – including with the bombing of cities and crucial infrastructure. John Sullivan is deeply familiar with the dynamics at play: for almost three years, he served as America’s Ambassador to Russia, and was there as Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine. Also on today's show: An Afghan aid worker with Women for Women International; Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council; Beverly Gage, author of G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Washington, today marks a new year, a new Congress, and a new balance of power. But right off the bat, the new Republican House majority is stumbling amid a leadership contest that could – at best – be long and drawn out, and – at worst – cause congressional chaos. At this moment, majority leader Kevin McCarthy does not yet have the votes to secure the speaker’s gavel. A small contingent of hardline right-wingers are standing in his way, but are they enough to endanger his election, given his party’s razor-thin majority? McCarthy has already given in to demands from these holdouts, including a rule that will make it easier to boot him out of office. Former Republican Congressman Will Hurd is author of American Reboot: An Idealist’s Guide to Getting Big Things Done and joins the show from Texas. Also on today's show: Noa Landau, deputy editor-in-chief of Haaretz; Aaron David Miller, former Middle East negotiator for the US State Dept.; Johann Hari, author of Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's show features some of our favourite interviews of the year with stars of stage and screen: writer/director John Ridley, actor Wendell Pierce, actor Emma Thompson. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's special we look back on the life and death of Queen Elizabeth II with former UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. Also joining the show to share his unique perspective is historian Jon Meacham. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's show features our favourite interviews of the year from the United Nations General Assembly: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, journalist/author Erich Schwartzel, director Amir Nizar Zuabi. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's show features our favourite interviews of the year dealing with the climate crisis: television naturalist Sir David Attenborough, former US Vice President Al Gore, filmmaker Dan Edge. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no new episode of the Amanpour showcast. If you haven’t already, please check out CNN’s other podcasts and showcasts at cnn.com/audio. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022 will go down as the second highest year for mass shootings in the US on record. It’s senseless bloodshed that raises the question every time: are these tragedies preventable? And why can’t we stop this uniquely American problem? Joseph Sakran was 17 when a stray bullet went through his throat and struck him in the left shoulder. He survived and that experience altered the course of his life. He is now a trauma surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, a city that continues to be plagued by shootings. Dr. Sakran joins the show to discuss his own experience and trying to put an end to gun violence. Also on today's show: actor Matthew McConaughey; Alex Heath, deputy dditor of The Verge; director James Cameron. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There’s no end in sight for the crisis unravelling at America’s southern border, as dangerously cold temperatures set in. On the ground, beyond the fences and wall of steel, humanitarian workers describe scenes of intolerable suffering, with families living on the streets and sidewalks, and children sick and hungry. In the border city of Brownsville, Texas, correspondent Rosa Flores spoke to a family of migrants from Venezuela about their harrowing journey to America and what awaited them on arrival. Also on today's show: El Paso City Councilwoman Claudia Rodriguez, former New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, US Senate Democrat Chris Murphy, director Margaret Brown. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A historic surprise visit: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the US today, on his first trip outside his homeland since Russia’s invasion nearly 10 months ago. He’s meeting with President Biden and addressing Congress as lawmakers prepare to vote on a spending bill that includes billions for Ukraine and NATO allies. Biden is also announcing another $1.8 billion in military aid, including the Patriot air defense system, a long-standing request from Kyiv as Moscow continues to pound Ukrainian cities. Democratic Senator Chris Coons recently met with President Zelensky in Kyiv as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation and joins the show from DC. Also on today's show: Yesterday the Taliban suspended university education for all female students. Yalda Kohi runs an educational center in Kabul that's been forced to close, and he joins the show to react to the news. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The decision by the January 6 committee to refer former President Trump to the Department of Justice on four criminal charges is a dramatic and historic one. Following the final hearing, Trump – the only declared Republican contender for the 2024 presidential election – offered a defiant response, claiming “These folks don’t get it that when they come after me, people who love freedom rally around me. It strengthens me. What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.” So how did the committee reach its decision? And what are the consequences for the former president? Correspondent Paula Reid walks us through this unprecedented moment in American politics. Also on today's show: Amy Davidson Sorkin, staff writer, The New Yorker; Rory Stewart, President, GiveDirectly Aisha Harris & Stephen Thompson, Co-hosts, NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour” To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is no new episode of the Amanpour showcast. If you haven’t already, please check out CNN’s other podcasts and showcasts at cnn.com/audio. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukraine awoke to another round of strikes this morning, putting its power and water supplies under even more pressure just as winter plunges the country into sub-zero temperatures. The worsening infrastructure crisis prompted the International Rescue Committee to add Ukraine to its Top 10 watchlist for 2023. Joining the show to discuss is IRC President David Miliband. Also on today's show: CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan, who's among the journalists whose Twitter accounts were just suspended by Elon Musk; Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Matt Richtel; Cher (interview from December 2020). To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's ahead for 2023? Will Russia regroup? Can Moscow make up ground freed by Kyiv's forces? Christiane puts those questions to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Next, Ukrainian and Russian authors reflect on how both nations have changed since the invasion. Plus, a look back at some of our reporting on how Ukrainian citizens have endured the onslaught and do what they can to help those on the front lines. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After more than a year of investigating, the January 6th committee is near the finish line. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was a prime target that dark day and is the subject of a new documentary, Pelosi in the House. The woman behind the camera is Pelosi's daughter Alexandra Pelosi, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker. The documentary shows her mother's fight to preserve democracy in the face of danger. It also tracks her stunning rise from homemaker to House Speaker, the first -- and only -- woman to hold that office. Also on today's show: Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics, Columbia University; Elizabeth Williamson, author of Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two events in Washington today tell a story about American global priorities. First, President Biden hosts a summit with African leaders to recognize what the administration calls the continent's "enormous potential and promise." The second has the President host a signing ceremony for the Respect for Marriage Act, the bipartisan bill that requires the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages across the country. In Africa, homosexuality is outlawed in many countries, like Ghana. While the President of Ghana visits the White House, a draconian new bill being debated at home would criminalize not just same-sex "conduct," but any support of LGBTQ rights. Correspondent Nima Elbagir reveals how US and western donors, who pledged to support LGBTQ+ rights, have also funded supporters of the controversial bill. Also joining today's show: LGBTQ activist Phyll Opoku-Gyimah; actor Sharon Horgan; singer/songwriter Judy Collins. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran has executed a second protester related to the anti-government demonstrations gripping the nation. But even in the face of brutal punishments and possibly even a death sentence, the protests have continued. The regime vows to continue its crackdown. Christiane's first guest says that executions are a tactic of repression from an outdated playbook. Hadi Ghaemi is the Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights in Iran. Next, we hear from Princeton professor Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian diplomat and chief nuclear negotiator. Also on today's show: Lizzie Gottlieb, director of Turn Every Page, which reveals the extraordinary, 50-year relationship between her father, editor Robert Gottlieb, and Robert Caro, one of America's most widely read political biographers. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices