In this special episode, Christiane and Jamie welcome their first guest to the podcast: former US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. In an extended conversation, Joe Biden's top diplomat speaks candidly about Gaza, Iran, and Ukraine, giving his views on how each of those issues were handled by his administration, and what mistakes have been made since President Trump returned to the White House six months ago.

Christiane presses Secretary Blinken on whether Israel is guilty of committing war crimes in Gaza, and on how likely it is that a ceasefire could be close. Plus Tony Blinken exclusively reveals how close Iran was to signing a new nuclear deal before Israel and America's attacks last month.

Plus, Jamie and his former boss talk about what an ageing President Biden was like to work for, and discuss whether the current administration will give Ukraine the weapons it needs to defend itself properly against Vladimir Putin and Russia's invasion.

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In this week’s bonus episode, Christiane and Jamie explain why Israel has been allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons - even though it won't admit to it - but other Middle Eastern countries aren't. They also discuss whether cultural differences between Iran and the West are contributing to the current tensions in the region.

Plus, Christiane and Jamie both offer personal insights into the former Palestinian leader, the late Yasser Arafat, and Christiane explains why Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is a threat to liberal democracy in the Balkans.

And finally - have you ever wondered why Jamie calls Christiane 'madam'? Listen to the end if you want to find out!

Did Trump's cuts to the National Weather Service contribute to the death toll in the tragic floods in Texas? And how many lives will needlessly be lost because of the President and his former adviser Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to foreign aid?

This week, Christiane and Jamie look at the real-life impact of the swingeing cuts Trump has made since returning to the White House, and examine the fatal consequences of these decisions.

They also tell personal stories to explain the impact USAID has had in the past, from fighting AIDS in Africa, to ending famine in Somalia and successfully combating Russian disinformation across the globe - and question what the real motivation is behind the President's bid to cut foreign aid spending.

Contact us at: amanpourpod@global.com

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Watch us: https://www.youtube.com/@AmanpourPod

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