Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

Global Originals
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Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files

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. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com

Episodes

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Was Israel justified in starting its war with Iran?

    As missiles fly between Israel and Iran, Christiane and Jamie tackle the big questions: is Israel pushing for regime change in Tehran? Was Israel justified in starting this war in the first place? Will Iran decide to go for nuclear weapons as a result of this conflict? And just how far is President Trump prepared to go in backing Israel? With exclusive insights from Christiane’s personal contacts inside Iran and Jamie’s firsthand knowledge of U.S. intelligence, they pull back the curtain on the reality of this war, and what's likely to happen next. Plus - for the first time - they tell the story of when Jamie was approached by senior figures in the Iranian regime to broker diplomatic talks with Hillary Clinton during her first Presidential campaign. Contact us at: 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

    38 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO · BONUS

    Q&A: Will it be safe to travel to America for next year's World Cup?

    Christiane and Jamie tackle more of your questions in this week's bonus episode, including Georgina's about whether it will be safe for foreigners to travel to the US for the 2026 Football World Cup given the hostile atmosphere Trump is creating with his crackdown on immigration. Christiane also gives her view on the latest events in the Middle East, and Jamie doesn't hold back when asked whether the Israeli military is now committing war crimes in Gaza. They're also asked about Russia's growing influence across Eastern Europe in light of Jamie's recent trip to Bulgaria. Plus the pair reveal what they enjoy reading and watching in their free time, and what career they'd have pursued if they hadn't been reporters, diplomats, or podcasters! Contact us at: 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

    24 min

  3. 10 JUN

    LA Protests: Trump weaponises his immigration agenda

    Is President Trump trying to start a political civil war over immigration? That's what Christiane and Jamie discuss on this week's episode in light of Trump deploying the National Guard and Marines to California to deal with protesters. They also look at the President's fallout with former First Buddy Elon Musk and ask: who stands to lose the most from this breakdown in their relationship? Plus Christiane and Jamie explain why it won't be long before China becomes the world's biggest superpower if Trump continues with his America First approach to trade, tariffs, and diplomacy. The pair also reveal what they learned from their visits to China - Christiane in the 1970s just after Mao's death, and Jamie with a government delegation led by First Lady Hilary Clinton in the 1990s, when they quickly realised they were being spied on in their hotel rooms. Contact us at: 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

    36 min

  4. 4 JUN · BONUS

    Q&A: Could the US really become a dictatorship?

    In this week’s bonus episode, Christiane and Jamie tackle your questions: could the U.S. really slide into dictatorship? And why didn’t Biden and Harris tell the US about his Gaza peace deal during the election campaign? Plus Christiane and Jamie reveal whether he ever wanted to run for president (and what Christiane might have made of that…). Contact us at: 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

    22 min

  5. 3 JUN

    Are allies at tipping point over Israel's Gaza war?

    There's mounting opposition within Israel to the ongoing offensive in Gaza. Are Israel's international allies approaching a tipping point? Plus, in recent weeks, Harvard has become the focal point of Donald Trump’s escalating attacks on elite institutions. What’s it actually like on campus amid the political firestorm? Christiane shares the precautions she took for her visit to Harvard last week - including taking a burner phone - and she and Jamie unpack whether the President’s criticisms have any merit - or are just political theatre. Jamie also reveals the contents of a confidential email from Secretary of State Rubio that’s been circulating through U.S. embassies. What does it signal about a broader crackdown on academic institutions, and what could the long-term fallout be? Contact us at: 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

    39 min

  6. 29 MAY · BONUS

    Q&A: Will Trump destroy democracy in the US?

    In this week’s bonus episode, Christiane and Jamie tackle your questions - from whether Trump poses a real threat to American democracy, to the media’s impact on elections, and whether they’ve ever had to back a message they personally disagreed with. They also share the story of how they first met and began dating - plus, the surprising twist that led to Christiane being forcibly removed by Serbian bodyguards. Do you have a question you’d like Christiane and Jamie to answer on the next bonus episode? Send it in on social media @amanpourpod or email amanpourpod@global.com Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.com For more content, please follow us: Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod Instagram: www.instagram.com/amanpourpod X: x.com/AmanpourPod Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Christiane-Amanpour-Presents BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

    24 min

  7. 27 MAY

    From allies to insults: who wins from Trump's personality-driven diplomacy?

    Another week, another tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and a fellow world leader. Christiane and Jamie react to the jaw-dropping scenes from Trump's meeting with South Africa's President, where Cyril Ramaphosa was told he was allowing a genocide of white farmers to carry on unchecked. Christiane compares the encounter to when President Zelensky was ambushed by Trump and Vice President JD Vance back in February, and Jamie reveals what senior Republicans have said to him in private about Trump's foreign policy. Christiane also shares the story of when she very nearly interviewed Nelson Mandela, and she and Jamie reflect on who stands to gain most if the US abandons its allies. Contact us at: 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

    32 min

  8. 21 MAY · BONUS

    Q&A: Would the US ever stop arming Israel?

    In this week’s bonus episode, Christiane and Jamie answer listener questions for the first time! They respond to your questions about the latest in the Middle East, as Israel’s allies continue to criticise the country over its latest offensive in Gaza. Plus Christiane and Jamie reveal more about the challenges of balancing their high pressure jobs and their relationship while they were married, and Jamie identifies President Trump’s most likely route to a Nobel Peace Prize. Do you have a question you’d like Christiane and Jamie to answer on the next bonus episode? Send it in on social media @amanpourpod or email amanpourpod@global.com Contact us at: 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

    27 min

  9. 20 MAY

    Negotiating with a dictator: What will end Putin's war in Ukraine?

    After Vladimir Putin's theatrical no-show at last week's peace summit in Istanbul, Christiane and Jamie try to answer the question which is giving world leaders and diplomats sleepless nights: what will it take for the Russian leader to end his invasion of Ukraine? They debate whether a meeting between Putin and President Trump could really open the door to peace, or whether it would simply play into the Kremlin's hands. And they ask whether the war would be any closer to ending if Joe Biden were still in the Oval Office. Christiane shares behind-the-scenes stories from her documentary Tsar Putin, produced long before the world grasped the full scope of his ambitions - and explains why its warnings now feel chillingly prophetic. And Jamie reveals what it was like to sit across the table from Putin when he was part of the first US delegation to meet him. Christiane and Jamie also react to the news of Biden's cancer diagnosis, and question whether there was really a 'cover-up' of his failing mental faculties by White House officials. They share stories of their personal relationships with the former President, and disagree strongly over whether he could and should have done more to support Ukraine while he was still in office. Contact us at: 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

    38 min

  10. 15 MAY · BONUS

    Q&A: Could we get away with our marriage today?

    In this first bonus Q&A episode, Christiane and Jamie ask each other questions they’ve always wanted to know the answers to!   Hear about why their marriage was so controversial when they first got together, and whether they think they could ‘get away with it’ now. Christiane talks about her first experiences of reporting from a warzone, and opens up about the rare occasions when she’s lost her composure during a high-profile interview.   Meanwhile, Jamie reveals some of his regrets over US foreign policy decisions he was involved in, and which politician he most admired during his long career.   Next week, they’ll be answering your questions! Email them in to amanpourpod@global.com or to ask them on social media @amanpourpod on all major platforms. 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 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amanpourpod BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amanpourpod.bsky.social

    33 min

  11. 13 MAY

    Trump, the Middle East, and the peace deal you never heard about

    There was once hope in the Middle East, but does it now feel further away than ever? In this first episode, unparalleled insight into groundbreaking peace deals left dangling, a recent covert negotiation effort in the West Bank, revealed for the first time… and what it's like having Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat hang up on you live on air. As President Donald Trump lands in the Middle East – for the first major trip of his second term – Christiane and Jamie ask: could he be the person to broker peace between Israel and Hamas? We take a look back at Oslo’s shredded promise, America’s failures that led to Hamas’ election victory, and Jamie’s secret wrangling at the heart of the Middle East peace process. Christiane asks, could Trump’s unpredictability bring peace, or deepen the divide? What’s at stake for civilians, and is lasting peace still possible? Contact us at: 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

    39 min

  12. 4 MAY

    Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files (Trailer)

    Christiane Amanpour launches her first ever podcast! The world-renowned journalist presents 'The Ex Files' alongside her ex-husband Jamie Rubin, a former US State Department official under Presidents Clinton and Biden. From Trump and Putin to the war in Ukraine, from the rise of China as a global superpower to chaos in the Middle East, geopolitics has never been more dangerous or unpredictable. This isn't a new world order - right now, there is no world order. Each week, Christiane and Jamie unpack one of today’s defining global crises, drawing on decades of insider experience in global affairs, reporting from conflict zones, and grilling world leaders, to explain how we ended up where we are. 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 foreign policy, Christiane and Jamie still finish each other’s sentences. The first episode launches May 13th, with new episodes every Tuesday and bonus Q&A episodes on Thursdays. Available on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts.

    3 min
  • 12 Episodes

4.7
out of 5
73 Ratings

About

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. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com

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