How do so-called honey traps really work? Did China actually plant a spy in a tech firm to get close to Nvidia's former boss Jensen Huang? And what does this story tell us about the stakes in the global AI race? Christiane and Jamie explain why this scarcely believable tale matters so much, and Jamie reveals his own personal experiences of Russian and Chinese espionage.

They also continue to react to the midterms, analysing what the results mean for the far right around the world, and whether we are now closer to the AI bubble bursting.

Plus Christiane responds to Trump admitting he's been 'too tough' on immigration and she and Jamie discuss whether James Talarico has finally taught his fellow Democrats how to use religion to their advantage.

This episode was recorded on Monday 9th November 2026.

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The Democrats have taken Congress. The question for the rest of the world is whether that changes anything at all.

Jamie explains that under the American system the president still holds enormous power over foreign policy, and argues Trump has pushed that further than any of his predecessors. He says any allies hoping the midterms will rein him in may find they get a more measured America.

Christiane disagrees, highlighting two years of what she calls a chaotic foreign policy aimed squarely at America's own allies.

On Iran: Trump has accepted that he lost the midterms, and that the war was part of the reason. Christiane and Jamie ask whether a defeated president will escalate to force concessions at the bargaining table, or look for a way out.

They also discuss the war in Ukraine, with new talks in the UAE and the prospect of a three-way summit with Xi and Putin, and why Jamie believes Putin is waiting on the French election before he makes his next move.

In part two, the inner workings of a White House where Stephen Miller is now chief of staff — and the suggestion of UFC's Dana White as press secretary that lasted barely a few days. Plus the Democrats' plans to hold Pete Hegseth to account.

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What do the midterm results mean for Donald Trump, and is the MAGA era coming to an end? Christiane Amanpour and Tina Brown are joined by Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director, to react to a historic night for the Democrats. Together, they analyse shock results across the country, a major Democratic victory in Texas and a string of firsts for American politics.

They discuss what drove voters away from Trump, from the cost of living and the Iran war to corruption. Anthony explains why he believes Trump has been rejected, why the Democrats must be careful not to squander their opportunity, and whether Republicans could be locked out of power in Congress for years to come.

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With America hours from voting, Christiane and Tina unpack a midterm that has become a referendum on Donald Trump. The polls point to a blue wave - but unless the win is "too big to rig", can anybody feel secure? As Tina says: Trump has a PhD in chaos, and he thrives on a close result.

They also examine whether MAGA itself is now drifting. Fox News ratings are down and Trump’s former supporters are reconsidering their choices. What could be the consequences of an angry and defeated Trump?

Plus, Christiane reports from Doha on warnings of a new strike on Iran, Senator Chris Murphy's alarm that the plan he was briefed on would breach international law, and the volatile dance between Trump and a Netanyahu still struggling to build a coalition.

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Is Pete Hegseth already plotting an exit strategy? Christiane & Jamie respond to a question about whether the Defense Secretary - aka Secretary of War - might run for a Tennessee Senate seat to get ahead of the impeachment threat after the Midterms. They explain whether walking away from the Pentagon would really put him beyond the reach of Democratic investigators and the possibility that Trump could use him as a scapegoat for the Iran War.

Christiane also opens up for the first time on what she hopes the future holds for her after an epic 43 years at CNN... Christiane reflects on more than four decades at the network, and goes into detail about what she wants to focus on next.

Plus: what is NATO's role when leaders like Netanyahu and Putin stand accused of war crimes against civilians - and why do those leaders remain so hard to arrest? Christiane and Jamie also examine whether Iraq has become a failed state, with US, Israeli and Iranian hostilities unravelling a fragile recovery. And lastly, why does Turkey escape condemnation over its treatment of the Kurds in Syria, and should NATO still be holding meetings there?

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This week's historic elections in Israel are the first time the country has voted since the October 7th attacks, and the election may ultimately turn on a single question: will voters hold accountable the politicians responsible for the security failings which led to that atrocity? Christiane and Jamie look at Netanyahu's fight for survival and the challenge from Gadi Eisenkot, and ask whether security is now the only issue on the ballot, with almost every prominent party sitting on the right.

They also ask: if Netanyahu loses, does anything actually change? Can Israel be brought back in from the international cold, or will the alternative mean more of the same in Gaza and the West Bank? Did Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu move a single vote? And is it time for the US to reappraise its relationship with Israel, regardless of who the next Prime Minister is?

Then: was Pete Hegseth's recent meeting with Netanyahu a precursor to a new round of the US-Israeli war with Iran? Is that conflict likely to restart as soon as the Midterms are out of the way? Christiane also has her say on some of Trump's controversial and bizarre recent public statements, ranging from Islamophobic remarks about Abdul El Sayed to his comments about the muscles and the backsides of Republican candidates.

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Are protests in France spiralling out of control, or do they point to a deeper breakdown in trust between the public and its political leaders? Christiane and Tina examine what lies behind the unrest and what it reveals about France's political climate.

They also look at America's relationships with its allies. Can the US rebuild their trust, or will repairing the damage require more than a change of president?

And how dependent is Ukraine on Elon Musk's Starlink network to coordinate military operations and maintain its advantage against Russia? Plus, Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell her books in the UK because of her support for Palestine Action. Does this raise serious questions about freedom of expression?

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After Katie Zacharia lasted just 5 days as White House Press Secretary, Christiane and Tina Brown ask: is this story part of a wider pattern that shows Trump and his administration have a problem with women?

They discuss why Zacharia was given a job she was never qualified for in the first place, whether she was treated more harshly than her incompetent male colleagues, and whether Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles could be the next high profile woman in the Trump team to lose her job.

Christiane and Tina are also joined by Kai Bird, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, to talk about his recent biography of Trump's mentor, Roy Cohn. They examine the influence Cohn had on a young Trump, and how much of that influence is still in evidence today.

Plus, Christiane reacts to Trump's continued approach of criticising President Zelensky, while try to flatter and do business with Vladimir Putin.

You can read Tina's Substack 'Fresh Hell' here.

Christiane Amanpour Presents: The Ex Files is a Global production, available every Tuesday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode.

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