Amanpour

For the first time in 49 days, President Joe Biden and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today about the rapidly expanding war in the Middle East. It's a time of extreme tension, with the U.S. losing influence over its ally Israel's intent on taking on Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Gaza, though, where Israel started its offensive, remains under fierce Israeli bombardment. In the northern part of the besieged enclave, Palestinians are trying to flee whilst under fire. Correspondent Jeremy Diamond reports. Also on today's show: Rami Mortada, Lebanese Ambassador to the UK; Bill Carlson, Tampa City Council Member; Wall Street Journal reporter Anat Peled  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is crunch time for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. As with most elections, the economy is issue number one for voters. But also in focus like never before is reproductive rights, after the overturning of Roe in 2022. On the surface, these two issues may not seem related, but economist Laura Tyson says the two are actually linked. Tyson, who advised President Clinton as the first female head of the Council of Economic Advisers, is now a professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. She joins the program from California. Also on today's show: actor Kate Winslet; journalist Connie Chung  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One year ago today, at 6:29am, Hamas invaded Israel, and committed the most heinous of crimes, murdering more than a thousand people, mostly civilians, and taking 250 hostages - scores are still captive today. 23-year-old Romi Gonen was taken hostage that horrific day from the Nova music festival. She spent her 24th birthday, this summer, in captivity. Every single day her mother Meirav has been fighting tirelessly to bring her home from Gaza. Meirav spoke with Christiane for the first time late October last year. She joins the show again today from Tel Aviv. Als on today's show: Rana Salman, Co-director, "Combatants for Peace" & May Pundak, Israeli Executive Director, "A Land for All"; Al Jazeera English correspondent Youmna ElSayed  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the show, one year since the horrors of October 7th that sparked a devastating war on Gaza, Christiane speaks to Israeli and Palestinian journalists about how their lives have changed. And in an exclusive interview, Siamak Namazi, the longest-held American in Iran, breaks his silence for the first time since his release. After enduring eight years of torture in Evin Prison and making a desperate plea to President Biden to secure his release, Namazi shares his powerful story of survival and freedom. Also on the show, Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet speaks to Christiane about portraying legendary wartime photographer Lee Miller, one of the first journalist, and women, to document the atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Lebanon has become a place of fear and chaos as Israel continue to escalate in the south and in Beirut, Paula Newton speaks with American University of Beirut Professor Mona Fawaz to understand how the situation is being read by the people of Lebanon. As someone who experienced the Lebanese Civil War and also Israel's invasion in 2006, she explains how the current tensions and uncertainty feed into a trend wherein Lebanon has never had a day of peace.  Also on today's show: climate expert Leah Stokes and former US House Republican Bob Inglis; actor/activist Meryl Streep, former Afghan MP Fawzia Koofi and Afghanistan's first female Governor Habiba Sarabi; author Malcolm Gladwell  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The war of threats is escalating between Israel and Iran, with Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon warning that retaliation for Iran's ballistic missile attack "will be soon," and Tehran warning of broader bombardment if Israel responds. Meanwhile Israeli bombs struck central Beirut for the first time in 18 years, killing at least nine people. The IDF also says it struck Hezbollah's intelligence HQ in the south. In the past two weeks, more than a thousand people in Lebanon have been killed. Jomana Karadsheh joins Christiane from Beirut. Also on today's show: Israeli journalist Ilana Dayan; Al Jazeera English correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum; author Ta-Nehisi Coates  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is warning that Iran “will pay” after it fired about 200 ballistic missiles at military targets last night. When it comes to retaliation, the US President Joe Biden says he does not support an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites. Meanwhile, on its northern front, Israel is sending in more forces to fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Almost swept from the headlines is Gaza, with little mention of the remaining Israeli hostages there or the nearly 90 Palestinians killed in the enclave just last night alone. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak joins Christiane on the show to discuss. Also on today's show: Andrew P. Miller, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli-Palestinian Affairs; Karim Sadjadpour, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; actor/activist John Leguizamo, host of “Voces American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The next stage of Israel's war against Hezbollah will start soon, according to the Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Israel is currently conducting reconnaissance and other ground raids inside Lebanon. According to the US, Washington says any ground invasion could be more limited than originally thought. Former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy joins the show to discuss the latest developments and what this means for the region. Also on today's show: Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project, International Crisis Group; director Farah Nabulsi and actor Saleh Bakri ("The Teacher"); author Sarah Smarsh ("Bone of the Bone")  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Israel targets Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in Southern Beirut. The attack occurred soon after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly in New York. Jomana Karadsheh joins the show from Beirut and Jeremy Diamond joins from Haifa, Israel. Also on today's show: Fawaz Gerges, Professor of Political Science, London School of Economics; Amir Tibon, Diplomatic Correspondent, Haaretz; Meryl Streep joins former Afghan MP/negotiator Fawzia Koofi and Afghanistan's first female Governor Habiba Sarabi; author Amanda Jones  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Middle East is on edge as Israel prepares for a possible ground operation in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the US and France, among others, are working feverishly on a ceasefire plan between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Friday, and signals no such restraint. Correspondent Ben Wedeman joins Christiane from Tyre, Lebanon Also on today's show: Kenyan President William Ruto; Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif; former NIH Director Francis Collins  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices