Amanpour

After weeks of violent uprisings in Iran, the question is - what comes next? Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi reflects on her nation’s history to consider what’s best for the future. Air date: January 17, 2026 Guests: Shirin EbadiElliott Abrams Kaouther Ben Hania Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Iranian peoples' call for freedom was heard all over the world, but has a bloody crackdown crushed the uprising? Shirin Ebadi was Iran's first female judge, but was demoted following the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But she kept advocating for women and human rights, and in 2003, became Iran's first Nobel Peace Prize winner. Shirin Ebadi joins the show from London.  Also on today's show: author Theodor Meron; author Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After days of urging the people of Iran to continue to protest, President Trump suddenly appeared to back down last night — noting to reporters that Iranian sources told him that the killing of protesters was over and planned executions will not go ahead. But even as the crackdown on protesters has proven deadly, with thousands reported killed, some are still staunch defenders of the regime. Christiane speaks to one of those voices — Mohammad Marandi is a Professor at the University of Tehran and joins the show from Tehran, Iran.  Also on today's show: Nazenin Ansari, Journalist /Managing Editor of Kayhan London; Phil Gunson, Andes Project Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group; NYT columnist and author Andrew Ross Sorkin    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump promises help is coming for Iranian protestors, with reports that executions will begin soon and the regime promising to swiftly punish demonstrators. This is a critical moment for the regime, caught between threats from the United States and from its own people. Correspondent Jomana Karadsheh has this exclusive report piecing together what's happening inside Iran, with testimony from a doctor treating those wounded protestors.  Also on today's show: Elliott Abrams, Former US Special Representative for Iran; Kaouther Ben Hania, Director and writer, The Voice of Hind Rajab; Mike Fox, Legal Fellow, Cato Institute Project on Criminal Justice    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A picture is beginning to emerge of the true brutality of the Iranian regime as it cracks down hard on continued protests in Iran. At least 18,000 protestors have been killed in more than two weeks of anti-government demonstrations, according to a US-based human rights group. Nazanin Boniadi is an actress and activist who has long campaigned for human rights in Iran, having been born there in the early days of the Islamic Republic. She joins the show to discuss these protests.  Also on today's show: historian Nina Khrushcheva; author Jacob Soboroff ("Firestorm"); journalist/author Kenneth Rosen ("Polar War")    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Abbas Milani, a Stanford Iranian studies director and former political prisoner, discusses the current protests in Iran, emphasizing the regime's loss of legitimacy and impending uprisings if governance falters. He suggests strategies like diplomatic isolation to pressure the government. Ben Markovits, a British-American novelist, dives into his Booker Prize-nominated work, exploring themes of aging and emotional turmoil through a character's journey. He shares personal parallels between his cancer experience and his protagonist's life.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders critiques U.S. foreign policy and calls for immigration reform while condemning an ICE shooting. Former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos warns about the risks of U.S. intervention in Latin America and its legal implications, advocating for dialogue. Actor Ethan Hawke shares insights on portraying lyricist Lorenz Hart, touching on themes of artistic relevance and his collaboration with director Richard Linklater. The discussion intertwines global politics with personal storytelling, creating a compelling narrative.

This week, the world has watched as the US captured a foreign head of state, boarded oil tankers, and threatened military action against more countries. International human rights lawyer Jared Genser has extensive experience working against dictatorships and has been called "the extractor" for his work freeing political prisoners. He joins Christiane from DC to make sense of all of this.   Also on today's show: actor Ethan Hawke; reporters/authors Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

America is roiled. At home and abroad, from Minnesota to Venezuela, the actions of the Trump administration have put the country on edge. Senator Bernie Sanders joins the program from the Capitol Building to discuss it all.  Also on today's show: CNN Correspondent Paul Newton; MSF Secretary-General Christopher Lockyear; Atlantic staff writer David Frum  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reacting to President Trump's threats against Colombia, President Gustavo Petro hit back by vowing to "take up arms" to defend his country. Trump and Petro have clashed from the very start when Petro initially refused to take Venezuelan migrants Trump was deporting, then over the war in Gaza, and US military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels. The US even suspended Petro's visa and sanctioned him last year. But could this really spiral into an American assault on Colombia? Juan Manuel Santos was the country's president for eight years until 2018, and he joins Christiane from there.   Also on today's show: Karim Sadjadpour, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Ian Bremmer, Founder and President, Eurasia Group & GZERO Media    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices