Q&A: Trump’s dealmaking “mastery”, capitalism vs democracy & do sanctions work?

Q&A: Musk the trilionaire, the two-state solution and is Trump cashing in?

Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire - but should we celebrate or worry? Christiane and Jamie debate how his leap from electric cars and SpaceX into owning the public square, gutting USAID, and bankrolling Europe's far right represents a concentration of power no single individual should hold. They also examine whether Trump's final-term decisions are driven by ideology or personal business interest, and why "might makes right" seems to define every corner of this presidency. Plus, with hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers now in the West Bank and a campaign of violence forcing Palestinians from their homes, is the two-state solution already dead? And as the UK announces an Australia-style social media ban for children, Christiane and Jamie discuss why it's urgently needed – and why America will probably never do it. This episode was recorded on the 15th June 2026. 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. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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

Who won the Iran War?

The war in the Middle East has stopped, but can either the US or Iran genuinely claim victory? Christiane and Jamie unpick what the Memorandum of Understanding actually includes, what it conspicuously leaves out, and why the deal could still collapse if the two sides can't agree on the nuclear question long-term. Christiane reveals what her contacts inside Iran are telling her about the potential for peace, and she and Jamie ask whether the Islamic Republic's new regime is actually more hardline than the one it replaced. Plus: Russia has just launched devastating airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and cultural sites in what some see as a sign of Putin's growing desperation. With world leaders gathering at the G7 this week, can they persuade Trump to turn his attention to ending that war now the Iran crisis is on hold? 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. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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

Q&A: CBS under attack, Iran's ransom price and has Mamdani delivered?

Is the gutting of 60 Minutes leading us down a dangerous path? Christiane doesn't hold back on what CBS's parent company is doing to one of the most successful news programmes in television history. Plus, a Lebanese listener asks the question at the heart of the Middle East crisis: is it cheaper to pay off Iran and its proxies than to keep fighting? Christiane and Jamie unpack why the war in Lebanon won't end while Israel refuses to deal, and whether the Trump administration has the diplomatic expertise to broker real peace. Christiane and Jamie also discuss whether Mayor Mamdani is really delivering for New York, and explain why the UN can't act on America's energy blockade of Cuba. 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. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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

Is Israel trapped in a Forever War?

Christiane was in Beirut until last Sunday. By the time she arrived back in London, the Lebanese capital was once again under Israeli bombardment and the Middle East ceasefire appeared on the verge of collapse. In this episode, Christiane reveals what Lebanese President Joseph Aoun exclusively told her about Israel's ongoing war with Hezbollah and Iran's continued grip on his country. She and Jamie trace Hezbollah's history as an Iranian proxy force, its decades of conflict with Israel, and whether Lebanon now holds the key to a wider peace deal in the region. They also react to reports of furious recent phone calls between President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and ask whether the US-Israeli relationship has been permanently damaged by the ongoing conflict. And you can watch Christiane's recommendation for this week here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G4lEEqEzpQ 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. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod 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

Q&A: Trump’s dealmaking “mastery”, capitalism vs democracy & do sanctions work?

On this week’s Q&A, Christiane and Jamie are asked whether Donald Trump’s self-styled reputation as a master dealmaker stands up to scrutiny, as US-Iran talks drag on with bold claims but little progress. They also discuss the French navy’s interceptions of Russian oil tankers accused of skirting sanctions, and whether others should follow suit. They explore the effect that gerrymandering, and the wider capitalist system, has on American democracy, both politically and morally, before analysing claims that Elon Musk interfered in the 2024 election. What can democracies realistically do to protect themselves from the billionaires? 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. Follow us on social media @amanpourpod For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod [https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod [https://www.instagram.com/amanpourpod] X: https://x.com/AmanpourPod [https://x.com/AmanpourPod] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents [https://www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents] BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social]