Amanpour

Once a peaceful paradise famed as the gateway to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is now drawing the global spotlight for a very different reason, as it wrestles with a surge in violent crime. Three politicians have been assassinated there within the last month, with the murder of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio shocking the world. But this violent uptick isn’t limited to Ecuador. Drug cartels have long fueled brutality in nearby Mexico, while the bloodshed is now spread all the way south, impacting countries like Chile and Argentina. In an exclusive interview, Rafael Romo sat down with the former running mate of Ecuador’s murdered presidential candidate. She told him how her life has been since that moment, and why she fears for the future of her country. 

Also on today's show: Former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda; musician Jon Batiste 

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The Ukrainian counteroffensive continues, advancing for the second time in two weeks in the southeast of the country with the recapture of the village of Urozhaine. Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh has been with a Ukrainian brigade involved in that fight. 

Also on today's show: Russian economist Sergei Guriev; Eric Newman, executive producer of the new Netflix drama "Painkiller"; Stanley Nelson and Valerie Scoon, co-directors of the new documentary, “Sound of the Police” 

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US President Joe Biden is taking a victory lap as his Inflation Reduction Act celebrates its first year, going on the road and touting the impact of “Bidenomics.” But there’s frustration that easing inflation and strong job numbers aren’t translating into just as strong poll numbers. Biden’s approval rating is hovering around 41%. Bianna is joined by Jared Bernstein, chair of the US Council of Economic Advisers. 

Also on today's show: Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke; Former US Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens; Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer & Inflection AI CEO Mustafa Suleyma

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Donald Trump is indicted again, this time in Georgia. The former president is facing 13 felony charges for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. This is Trump’s fourth criminal indictment, with the former president now facing a total of 91 charges in Georgia, Florida, New York and Washington DC. Former Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Darryl Cohen joins Bianna to discuss the case. 

Also on today's show: former Afghan politician Fawzia Koofi; author & journalist David Quammen; writer & director Jared Moshé 

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It’s America’s deadliest fire in more than a hundred years. At least 96 people have been killed in Maui, after wildfires fueled by powerful winds tore across the island at speeds of a mile a minute. The historic town of Lahaina became ruins overnight. As search and rescue efforts continue it is believed the death toll will grow. Island residents who survived have lost family and friends to the fires as well as livelihoods. Correspondent Mike Valerio joins Bianna from Maui with an update on the situation from the ground. 

Also on today's show: Polish ambassador to the US Marek Magierowski; Atlantic staff writer Jennifer Senior; author Jason Stanley 

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Nearly two years ago Americans hastily left Afghanistan and the Taliban took over. Any hope that this Taliban might be a more moderate version has all but vanished. The rights of women and girls are continuously under assault. Secondary schools are still closed for girls and the latest edict closed beauty salons, not just a place of work but one of the last all-women spaces for socializing. Gordon Brown was Britain’s Prime Minister during the war in Afghanistan. He is now making a bold declaration that the denial of female education and any rights for women in Afghanistan should be declared a crime against humanity. In an op-ed for Britain’s Guardian newspaper, he is calling on world leaders to unite against the Taliban’s repression of women and girls. He joins the show from Fife in Scotland. 

Also on today's show: Special report on Iran's hijab crackdown; NYT columnist Jamelle Bouie on the current state of US politics 

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Today's show begins with a huge break in a story we’ve been covering for years. A group of Americans imprisoned in Iran have just been released from Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. This includes the longest held, 51-year-old Siamak Namazi, who has been languishing there for more than seven years. After being left behind in three previous prisoner swaps, Siamak went to extraordinary lengths on this show five months ago, making a public appeal for his release and that of his fellow Iranian-Americans Emad Shargi and Morad Tabaz. Christiane has a report on how it all unfolded, followed by interviews with Siamak's lawyer Jared Genser, CNN US Security Correspondent Kylie Atwood, and Washington Post writer Jason Rezaian, who spent 18 months in an Iranian prison. 

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Rainforests help prevent our planet from overheating and deliver the oxygen we breathe but are under attack at an alarming rate. This week, eight South American presidents have been meeting in Brazil, where they all agreed to stop the rainforest’s destruction before the point of no return. But deciding on a destination is one thing, while agreeing on how to get there is something else. So how to turn talk into action? Gina McCarthy was EPA administrator under President Obama and subsequently served as President Biden’s top climate advisor, helping spearhead a landmark climate bill to slash America’s carbon emissions. She joins Christiane to discuss. 

Also on today's show: Journalist and author Sally Hayden; British Labour MP Chris Bryant; Toshi Yoshihara, Senior Fellow, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments 

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Despite the intense legal heat of three indictments, and the mounting cost of expensive lawyers, Donald Trump is ahead of the rest of the pack, racing to become the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. Most of his rivals are too timid to take him on, but not Chris Christie. The former federal prosecutor, New Jersey governor, and now Republican presidential candidate, Christie says that Trump "cannot be the nominee" and will not win the election against Biden. He joins the show from New York. 

Also on today's show: playwright Gillian Slovo; author James McBride 

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A split-screen moment dominates the news about Ukraine. From Kyiv, President Volodymir Zelensky accuses President Vladimir Putin of yet more war crimes, after a drone attack on a blood transfusion center in the east. And Ukraine’s security services detain a woman suspected of being part of a Russian plot to assassinate Zelensky. While across continents, dozens of nations have just wrapped up a weekend peace conference for Ukraine. Russia was not invited to the event in Saudi Arabia, but China was. It was an important diplomatic coup for Ukraine, which wants to push the Global South into recognising Russia as the aggressor. Christiane discusses this all with Yevgeniya Gaber, a former top foreign policy advisor to Ukraine’s prime minister. 

Also on today's show: Craig Martell, US Defense Department Chief Digital & AI Officer; author Donovan Ramsey; ultra runner Boas Kragtwijk, who's running from Amsterdam to Kyiv to raise money to buy ambulances for Ukraine’s emergency services. 

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