The G20 is preparing to kick off in South Africa this weekend. It's supposed to be when the world's major powers come together to tackle the biggest global challenges, from economic stability to climate change. But this year's summit in Johannesburg begins with something extraordinary: virtually no senior US presence. All of it unfolds as South Africa confronts another unexpected crisis: mystery flights carrying Palestinians from Gaza into the country, which officials fear could signal an effort to remove Palestinians from their homeland. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola joins the show from Johannesburg. 

Also on today’s show: Rev. Alex Santora; author Elizabeth Kolbert 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince walked into the White House today, just years after being labelled an international pariah. President Trump welcomed Mohammed Bin Salman, the man increasingly seen as the Kingdom's most consequential leader in recent history. Few Americans know and understand MBS better than Princeton scholar Bernard Haykel. Haykel has interviewed the Crown Prince more than 20 times for his forthcoming book "The Realm" and he joins Christiane from Washington. 

Also on today's show: international reporter Steffano Pozzebon; former NSC Senior Director Juan Gonzalez; director Geeta Gandbhir ("The Perfect Neighbor") 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Council moved to investigate mass killings in Sudan. That comes after stark new evidence of atrocities in El Fasher, in the Darfur region. The UN’s top aid official, Tom Fletcher, has just returned from Tawila in northern Darfur. While in Sudan, Fletcher also met with the Sudanese army chief, as well as the opposition paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. 

Also on today's show: political reporter Stephen Collinson; singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan; MTV co-founder Tom Freston 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore joins Christiane to discuss the COP30 climate summit and U.S. politics. Then, Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter talk about their reunion, this time for a bold new Broadway production of “Waiting for Godot.” In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians have surged, CNN brings a special report from the ground. Plus, a taste of Ukrainian soft power as a London chef who once fought on the frontlines brings his country’s culture to the table. And from Christiane’s archive, Holocaust survivor and resistance fighter Selma van de Perre reflects on survival, courage, and the cost of defiance.

Air date: November 15, 2025

Guests:

Al Gore

Keanu Reeves & Alex Winter

Eugene Korolev & Polina Sychova

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As many Americans gathered to celebrate Veterans Day, they did so at a time of political upheaval and division. From the nation's capital to cities like Chicago and Portland, soldiers police their own streets, their own people. Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré, who served his country for more than 37 years, says, "never before have I been as concerned for our democracy -- we are being tested, and this is a test we cannot afford to fail." He joins the show from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Also on today's show: Ukrainian restaurateurs Eugene Korolev & Polina Sychova; acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thousands of emails to and from Jeffery Epstein have been released by the House Oversight committee, exposing a web of connections to the disgraced businessman and convicted sex offender, who was found dead in his jail cell in 2019. Of course, all everyone wants to know about is how President Donald Trump is connected to it all. CNN Chief US National Affairs Correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins the show to discuss. 

Also on today's show: Zack Polanski, Leader, The Green Party of England and Wales; actors Alex Winter & Keanu Reeves ("Waiting for Godot"); US House Democrat Jim Clyburn 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Indigenous protesters against deforestation are making their voices heard in Belem, Brazil, the site of the UN's major climate summit. But the world's most powerful people aren't even at the conference: Presidents Trump and Xi are no-shows, and so is India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all big polluters. One well-known American trying to fill the leadership gap is former US Vice President Al Gore. One of the earliest politicians to sound the alarm on climate change, he won the Nobel Peace Prize in part for his prescient documentary "An Inconvenient Truth."  

Also on today's show: Juanita Goebertus, Director, Americas Division, HRW  
& Noah Bullock, Executive Director, CRISTOSAL; NYT reporter Charlie Savage 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

First: As Russia advances on Ukraine, G7 leaders meet in Canada with this war high on their agenda. So, what's at stake, and how long can Ukraine hold out?  

Next: "The President's Cake" is the award-winning film exploring the realities of Saddam Hussein's rule in 1990s Iraq. We speak with writer/director Hassan Hadi. 

Then: On Veterans Day, Hari Sreenivasan speaks with former Navy Seal Marcus Capone and Bonni Cohen, director of "In Waves and War," a film about controversial psychedelic therapy that seeks to heal brain injuries. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The longest US government shutdown ever recorded could be coming to an end soon after eight Democratic senators voted with Republicans to advance a measure to reopen the government. Angus King, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, was one of those senators who broke ranks. He joins the show to discuss that decision and what happens next. 

Also on today's show: Reem Turkmani, Director, Syria Conflict Research Program at the London School of Economics & Charles Lister, Syria Program Director at Middle East Institute; Gabriela Jauregui, Mexican author, poet and women's rights activist; author Marion Nestle (“What to Eat Now”) 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A special program from Rio de Janeiro as Brazil prepares to host the COP30 climate summit. Christiane talks to Britain’s Prince William about the Earthshot prize, which rewards five innovators for finding climate solutions, and she asks him about changes in the British monarchy.  The former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres speaks about finding optimism amid the dire climate forecast and tells Christiane why she thinks Bill Gates’s latest memo on global warming is misguided. Then, a little inspiration from above as NASA’s first female space shuttle pilot Eileen Collins discusses the new documentary about her extraordinary life “Spacewoman”. From Christiane’s archive, a return to Brazil’s last time hosting a major climate gathering in 1992. When the Earth Summit saw then-Senator Al Gore tell Christiane that the world needed American climate leadership. And finally, some words of wisdom from David Attenborough as he releases his latest nature documentary. 

Air date: November 8, 2025

Guests:

Prince William

Christiana Figueres 

Eileen Collins

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices