It has been a year like no other for two of Britain's best-known institutions. The BBC, the country's independent public broadcaster, has found its editorial integrity in question, and has been forced to defend its practices on multiple occasions. The British monarchy too, is under greater scrutiny than perhaps ever before. David Dimbleby is a veteran journalist who knows both institutions well. "What's the Monarchy For?" is his latest project airing on the BBC now. He joins the show from London.  Also on today's show: author Kiran Desai ("The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny"); Minnesota State Senator Zaynab Mohamed

Dec 10, 2025

The just-published Trump 2.0 national security strategy is causing a mix of fury, resignation, and even accusations of ignorance. Moscow has welcomed the plan, saying it aligns with Putin's vision, while former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt posted that it's "to the right of the extreme right of Europe." Celeste Wallander served as an assistant secretary of defense under President Biden, and Peter Frankopan is a professor of global history at Oxford University. They join Christiane to discuss...Show more.  Also on today's show: Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani; European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas; Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares; Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan; New Yorker Editor David Remnick

Dec 10, 2025

One year ago today, Syria's fallen President Bashar al-Assad fled the country. The man who replaced him, opposition leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, is certainly an international darling, welcomed all the way to the White House. According to a new poll by Arab Barometer, he has the approval of 81% of the Syrian people. But these numbers aren't universal: among minorities, including Alawites and Druze, support for him falls below 50%. Moreover, a United Nations commission warns that Syria's transition rem...Show moreains fragile amid continuing insecurity and sporadic violence. Christiane put crucial questions to him at this weekend's Doha forum.   Also on today's show: correspondent Clare Sebastian; former CDC official Demetre Daskalakis

Dec 8, 2025

Is time running out for Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro? Christiane asks Colombia's former president Ivan Duque why he supports Trump's aggressive stance against the country next door. And while the U.S. president has his eye on Latin America, the White House is snubbing Europe again, opting not to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to a NATO foreign minister meeting. Julianne Smith, former US Ambassador to NATO, speaks to Christiane about transatlantic tension, and those marathon peace talks betwee...Show moren Trump's team and Putin that appeared to produce nothing.  Plus, Oedipus on Broadway! Christiane speaks to stars Lesley Manville and Mark Strong about modernizing the 2,5000-year-old Greek tragedy, and playing a mother and son in love. From the archives, we revisit a 1988 mutiny in a New Jersey monastery, and remember legendary playwright Tom Stoppard.   Air date: December 6, 2025   Guests: Ivan Duque Julianne Smith Lesley Manville & Mark Strong

Dec 6, 2025

A week of intensive US diplomacy is wrapping up, with no Ukraine deal in sight, and escalating threats from Moscow. 30 years ago, the Dayton Agreement brought an end to the savage war in Bosnia, where, like Putin's dream of a greater Russia today, Serbia wanted more land and control, not an independent Bosnia. Rupert Smith was commander of the United Nations peacekeeping forces at the end of that conflict. Through his four decades in the military, he also led troops in the first Gulf war and Northern Ireland. He joins the program from London.   Also on today's show: photographer Annie Leibovitz; Bulwark reporter Will Sommer

Dec 5, 2025

In recent months, the Trump administration has hit 21 boats suspected of smuggling on behalf of drug cartels, as part of their self-declared war on narcoterrorism. It's all part of a wider campaign aimed at Venezuela and its leader Nicolas Maduro. Former President of Colombia Ivan Duque joins the show to discuss.  Also on today's show NYT journalist Farnaz Fassihi; New Yorker contributing writer Joshua Yaffa

Dec 4, 2025

Despite five hours of talks between Russia and the US, they failed to reach an agreement for ending the war in Ukraine. Both President Zelensky and NATO officials say that Putin shows no sign of making "meaningful concessions. Julianne Smith was Ambassador to NATO under President Biden, including during Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. She joins the show from Washington DC.  Also on today's show: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; Republican Senator Bill Cassidy

Dec 3, 2025

For the sixth time this year, President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting with President Putin in Moscow, presenting a revamped proposal agreed upon by both the White House and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal alleges the White House may be prioritizing business interests with Russia over a just peace for Ukraine. The newspaper's chief foreign affairs correspondent, Yaroslav Trofimov, joins the show from DC.  Also on today's show: Andrey Kurkov, author, "Three Years on Fire: The Destruction of Ukraine"; CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman; Iranian women's rights activist Mahnaz Afkhami

Dec 2, 2025

Outrage is mounting in Washington over the Trump administration's latest moves in its pressure campaign against Venezuela and the Maduro regime. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling for an investigation into a so-called "double tap" strike by the US military, targeting survivors from an alleged drug trafficking vessel. President Trump is denying knowledge of the strike, and backing his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who insists the strikes are legal.  Reporter Stephen Collinson joins the ...Show moreshow to discuss.  Also on today’s show: Brian Winter, Editor-in-chief, "Americas Quarterly"; former US Secretary of State John Kerry; Pastor Tim Johnson, founder, Fatherless No More Initiative; Andrew Rice, features Writer, New York Magazine

Dec 1, 2025

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry joins Christiane to discuss the leaked phone call which appears to show Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff coaching a Putin aide. They also discuss the administration's 28-point peace plan that would see Ukraine surrender territory to Russia, and Kerry weighs in on Trump's case against military veteran and Democratic Senator, Mark Kelly. Then, former Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba gives Kyiv's perspective on the Witkoff call controversy. CNN'...Show mores Hanako Montgomery reports on the mass grave site unearthed in the north of Sri Lanka, reopening painful wounds of a decades long civil war. Plus, renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz on her new book "Women", liberating Michelle Obama, the final photo of John Lennon and her Vogue cover of Timothée Chalamet. And as many celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we look at Christiane's archive piece from 1988, where she joined the charity "God's Love, We Deliver" on their meal train for those in need.

Nov 29, 2025