Amanpour

As Summer comes to a close, we're celebrating some of the most widely acclaimed voices who shaped this past year, from film to theater, to cooking and the written word. First, one of the year's defining writers, Pullitzer Prize-winning Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha speaks to Christiane about his award-winning poems and the dire conditions his family members continue to face in Gaza since he managed to escape. Then breakout star and Oscar winner Mikey Madison talks about playing a Brooklyn sex worker in "Anora" and how she prepared for the role which won her Best Actress at the Oscars. Also, three-time James Beard nominee for Best Chef, Iranian-born Nasim Alikhani discusses her contemporary spin on Iranian cuisine, her journey to the U.S. and what it was like cooking for the Biden White House. Plus, actors Jessica Hecht and Bill Irwin, stars of "Eureka Day," talk to Christiane about the Broadway play that satirizes vaccine skepticism and took home the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump is ramping up his anti-crime agenda, with armed troops on the streets of Washington DC and threats that more cities will soon follow. Immigration raids are ramping up across the country, and deportations are surging. So where does this leave the United States' democratic values? Journalist and historian Garrett Graff says that the country has already slipped into fascism, and he joins the show from Vermont.   Also on today's show: musician Jon Batiste; writer/director John Ridley  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The White House has fired the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Susan Monarez, after only one month in the position. This comes just days after she reportedly clashed with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his stance on vaccines. Several other top CDC officials announced they were quitting in her wake, leaving the health agency in turmoil. Doctor Fiona Havers is a former CDC official and infectious disease expert, who resigned from her post as a Senior Vaccine Adviser in June, citing concerns about changes to the agency's vaccine processes under Secretary Kennedy. She joins the show to discuss what this all means for public health in America, and for the next pandemic.   Also on today's show: Narges Bajoghli, Associate Professor of Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University & Suzanne Maloney, VP/Director of Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution; David Mora, Senior Analyst for Mexico, International Crisis Group  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the wake of the deadly school shooting in Minneapolis, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe joins the show from Washington, DC.  Also on today's show: US Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen; India's World Editor Happymon Jacob; former FEMA administrator Craig Fugate  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook's lawyer has filed a lawsuit against President Trump following his unprecedented attempt to fire her on Monday. Many experts fear that the president's latest action could spell the end of the Fed's independence. Gregg Nunziata, Executive Director of the Society for the Rule of Law and Natasha Sarin, Former US Department of Treasury official weigh in on the legal and economic ramifications.  Also on today's show: David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute; Oren Lieberman, CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief; Amande Bazerolle, Deputy Program Manager in Charge of Palestine, Médecins Sans Frontières  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ukrainian President Zelensky marked his country's independence day this weekend by promising his people they would one day celebrate peace under a Ukrainian flag. However, the future appears less certain than ever, with no signs of a workable deal in the cards. Yaroslav Trofimov is Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and he joins the show to discuss if there's any hope that Russia will come to the negotiating table.   Also on today's show: Andrew Yeo, Senior Fellow and SK-Korea Foundation Chair, Brookings Institution; author Karen Hao ("Empire of AI")    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the Middle East embroiled in endless conflict, Palestinian and Israeli peacemakers, Hiba Qasas and Nimrod Sheffer discuss a different way forward and how to revive the two-state solution. Then, science writer David Wallace-Wells talks to Christiane about the dangers of plastic pollution and the microplastics are in our vital organs. He warns Donald Trump's rollback of climate change regulations will impact our health. Plus, former New York Times Paris bureau chief Elaine Sciolino talks to Christiane about her new book, "Adventures in the Louvre," and takes her behind the scenes of the iconic museum, from its famous glass pyramid to the coveted Mona Lisa. Then a look at Afghanistan under the Taliban, now and the first time they took over in 1996.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One week, two landmark diplomatic meetings, and seemingly no concrete progress made towards ending the war in Ukraine. As the diplomacy grinds on, so does the fighting, with soldiers on the front line and civilians both paying the price. Journalist Masha Gessen and historian Peter Frankopan join the program to discuss.   Also on today's show: musician Jon Batiste (please note the Batiste interview is interrupted for CNN Breaking News)  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Israeli Military says it is on the outskirts of Gaza City, and that's just the first step of a larger operation. CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Oren Liebermann joins the show from Jerusalem, followed by Israeli political analyst Dahlia Scheindlin.  Also on today's show: author Bill McKibben, "Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for the Climate and Fresh Chance for Civilization"; artist Amy Sherald  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Israeli military is calling up more than 60,000 army reservists ahead of the planned takeover and occupation of Gaza City. Gaza City is one of the most densely populated areas of Gaza, and officials there are calling for international intervention, fearing for what will likely be the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians. Paula Hancocks joins the show to discuss.  Also on today's show: Director Julia Loktev and her co-director, Russian journalist Anna Nemzer, discuss their new documentary "My Undesirable Friends"; Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America, Chatham House  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices