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.

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In this week's bonus episode, Christiane and Jamie are answering on whether the UN is 'toothless', and what Iranian and Israeli civilians misunderstand most about each other. They also discuss what the international community is really doing to support Afghan women - is there any way to pressure the Taliban to uphold basic human rights?

Christiane and Jamie also reflect on the early mentors who shaped their careers and the surprising ways those influences still guide them today. Plus, Christiane recounts one of the most outrageous (and risky) requests she ever made to Colin Powell during her coverage of the Bosnian war. And for Gilmore Girls fans: she talks about being Rory’s idol and the story behind her memorable cameo.

As Iran continues to dominate the headlines, we’re turning back the clock to explore what the country was like before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Christiane shares personal memories of growing up in pre-revolutionary Tehran and during the uprising. What was life really like before and how did life start to change?

We also dive into the complex world of nuclear weapons. We explain why some countries are allowed to have them while others are denied. In the wake of recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, we explain why Israel has the bomb, but Iran doesn’t. And with only nine countries possessing nuclear weapons today, how did North Korea manage to become one of them?

In this week’s bonus episode, Christiane and Jamie dive into some of the toughest questions shaping global politics today. They explore what might happen if Israel and the U.S. bring the war with Iran to a close, and whether Pakistan could emerge as an unexpected diplomatic player.

They also discuss Ukraine, with a frank discussion on whether the American public truly grasps the broader risks of Russia’s invasion. Plus they debate Europe’s defence strategy: Should nations keep relying on U.S. weapons, or prioritise building their own military capabilities? Plus they consider what they’d ask Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu if given the chance.

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Just after we finished recording yesterday’s episode, Iran launched missiles at a U.S. airbase in Qatar. This morning, President Trump and Qatari leaders brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran - though tensions remain high, with Israel accusing Iran of violations.

Despite these developments, today’s conversation remains just as vital. We explore whether Tehran will now accelerate its pursuit of a nuclear weapon after US strikes on its nuclear facilities.

With President Trump hinting at regime change, can Iran’s leadership survive this crisis - and should it? And given America’s track record in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, is this the right policy?

And after Iran was deliberately misled by both the U.S. and Israel, is diplomacy still a realistic path to ending the war?

Christiane and Jamie tackle more of your questions in this week's bonus episode, including Trump's stance on immigration and whether there needs to be more investigations into allegations of corruption within the Trump administration.

Christiane explains why the US risks losing credibility with the rest of the world as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues in the Middle East, and Jamie also give his views on the Democrats' chances of success in next year's midterm elections,

Plus they try to finish on a more positive note and discuss whether looking back on the past gives them hope for the future.

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