Amanpour

The Middle East remains trapped in limbo, as President Trump threatens to unleash overwhelming force on Iran, only to pull out last minute again. Egypt has been grappling with the economic blows of the conflict, and has been involved in trying to stop the fighting. Last week, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his Iranian counterpart in India. He joined Christiane in London for an exclusive conversation about what comes next for the Middle East. 

Also on today's s episode: former US prosector Andrew Weissmann, author of "Liar's Kingdom: How to Stop Trump's Deceit and Save America"; Josh Tyrangiel, author of "AI for Good" 
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Lethal records are being set almost daily in Ukraine's war with Russia. But even as the air war expands, the tide on the ground may be turning. Last month, Ukraine managed to liberate more land than Russia seized - the first time Moscow suffered a net loss of territory since 2024. In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia to expect more attacks. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh brings us a first hand, harrowing look at the new drone warfare, reporting from eastern Ukraine. 

Also on today's show: Former Ukrainian Minister of Economy Tymofiy Mylovanov; Former AUS ssistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Juan Gonzalez; director Rita Coburn ("W. E. B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause")
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After pageantry and flattery in Beijing this week, Presidents Trump and Xi are hailing a new era of the America-China relationship. But stumbling blocks remain - from tech and trade deals to the war in Iran. China expert Rush Doshi served in President Biden's National Security Council and he joins the show to discuss all the details from this historic summit. Then, what went wrong in Israel? That's the question author and leading genocide scholar Omer Bartov seeks to answer in his new book. He joins Christiane to trace the origin story of Israel, to the war in Gaza, to its present-day popularity crisis. Plus, as tech giants join Trump in China, back home in America they are seeking the key to immortality. Tech journalist Kara Swisher explores this in her new CNN series "Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever." And from the archives, a look back at the long fight for freedom in Iran. Christiane's report from Tehran, where young Iranians risked brutal punishments to go to parties. And finally, when politics meets pop. We explain how this year's Eurovision Song Contest is causing controversy as Israel gears up to compete in Saturday's 70th Grand final.

Air date: May 16, 2026

Guests:

Rush Doshi

Omer Bartov

Kara Swisher
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Two superpower leaders, two days of talks, and an agenda with global consequences ... all of it unfolding under the shadow of the war in Iran, which has thrown China's global influence into sharper focus. Over the last thirteen years, President Xi has transformed China, tightening control at home while embracing a bolder strategy abroad. Xiang Lanxin is Professor Emeritus of International History and Politics at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, and he joins the show from Shanghai. 

Also on today's show: Indian journalist Rahul Bhatia; clinical psychologist (and Holocaust survivor) Edith Eger and daughter Marianne Engle 

 
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On his first trip to China in nearly a decade, there's a lot at stake for President Trump: tariff tensions, the AI race and the war with Iran are all on the table, along with a stark warning from Xi on Taiwan. China says he warned that if the issue is "mishandled" it could lead to "a highly dangerous situation." Rush Doshi served as a top official on China and Taiwan on President Biden's National Security Council. He's now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and joins the program from Washington. 

Also on today's show: Lewis Goodall, co-host, the "News Agents" podcast; Brendan Ballou, former special council, US Justice Dept. 

 
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