One year ago today, Syria's fallen President Bashar al-Assad fled the country. The man who replaced him, opposition leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, is certainly an international darling, welcomed all the way to the White House. According to a new poll by Arab Barometer, he has the approval of 81% of the Syrian people. But these numbers aren't universal: among minorities, including Alawites and Druze, support for him falls below 50%. Moreover, a United Nations commission warns that Syria's transition remains fragile amid continuing insecurity and sporadic violence. Christiane put crucial questions to him at this weekend's Doha forum.
Also on today's show: correspondent Clare Sebastian; former CDC official Demetre Daskalakis
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US ramps up pressure on Venezuela, Snubs Europe
Is time running out for Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro? Christiane asks Colombia's former president Ivan Duque why he supports Trump's aggressive stance against the country next door. And while the U.S. president has his eye on Latin America, the White House is snubbing Europe again, opting not to send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to a NATO foreign minister meeting. Julianne Smith, former US Ambassador to NATO, speaks to Christiane about transatlantic tension, and those marathon peace talks between Trump's team and Putin that appeared to produce nothing. Plus, Oedipus on Broadway! Christiane speaks to stars Lesley Manville and Mark Strong about modernizing the 2,5000-year-old Greek tragedy, and playing a mother and son in love. From the archives, we revisit a 1988 mutiny in a New Jersey monastery, and remember legendary playwright Tom Stoppard.
Air date: December 6, 2025
Guests:
Ivan Duque
Julianne Smith
Lesley Manville & Mark Strong
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Former NATO Commander Rupert Smith
A week of intensive US diplomacy is wrapping up, with no Ukraine deal in sight, and escalating threats from Moscow. 30 years ago, the Dayton Agreement brought an end to the savage war in Bosnia, where, like Putin's dream of a greater Russia today, Serbia wanted more land and control, not an independent Bosnia. Rupert Smith was commander of the United Nations peacekeeping forces at the end of that conflict. Through his four decades in the military, he also led troops in the first Gulf war and Northern Ireland. He joins the program from London.
Also on today's show: photographer Annie Leibovitz; Bulwark reporter Will Sommer
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Former Colombian President Ivan Duque
In recent months, the Trump administration has hit 21 boats suspected of smuggling on behalf of drug cartels, as part of their self-declared war on narcoterrorism. It's all part of a wider campaign aimed at Venezuela and its leader Nicolas Maduro. Former President of Colombia Ivan Duque joins the show to discuss.
Also on today's show NYT journalist Farnaz Fassihi; New Yorker contributing writer Joshua Yaffa
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Lengthy Talks, No Progress
Despite five hours of talks between Russia and the US, they failed to reach an agreement for ending the war in Ukraine. Both President Zelensky and NATO officials say that Putin shows no sign of making "meaningful concessions. Julianne Smith was Ambassador to NATO under President Biden, including during Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. She joins the show from Washington DC.
Also on today's show: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert; Republican Senator Bill Cassidy
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