Amanpour

Kyiv is leveraging its drone prowess by striking deep inside Russia, yet Ukraine remains exposed due to a chronic shortage of air defences. Dara Massicot of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, gives the latest status of the war. Then, reflecting on America's 250th anniversary and how music forges communities. World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative Bryan Stevenson explain what drew them to curate "We The People", a series of performances aimed at envisioning a brighter future for the U.S. And, authorities in Russia are warning about the rise of so-called 'black widow' scams, where brides allegedly marry vulnerable recruits to cash in on compensation when they're killed in combat. CNN's Matthew Chance reports from inside Russia. Plus, love and humour shine through the cracks of the conflict and crises embattling Lebanon. Writer and Director of "A Sad and Beautiful World" Cyril Aras joins the show. Plus, the age-old debate over immigration to Europe is resurfacing following the mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. From Christiane's archives, a look back at how Europe wrestled with the mass influx of Eastern European migrants escaping communism back in 1990.

Air date: August 8, 2026

Guests:

Dara Massicot

Yo-Yo Ma and Bryan Stevenson

Cyril Aras

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Once again, confusion reigns over the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump promised again this week that the vital shipping lane will open "very soon". The problem is that the US is not negotiating directly with Iran. Tehran is speaking to Oman, and says a deal on the Strait is close, but that agreement would not automatically reopen the Strait. They first want the US to meet certain guarantees. For more on this, Correspondent Jeremy Diamond joins the show from Tel Aviv.

Also on today's show: Linda Robinson, Sr. Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, Council on Foreign Relations; Jia Tolentino, Staff Writer, The New Yorker; Idrees Kahloon, Staff Writer, The Atlantic


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After a tight race with moderate Haley Stevens, progressive Abdul el-Sayed is now officially the Michigan Democratic Senate primary winner. The contest has been an enormously expensive one, with the candidates' stances on Israel a central issue in the campaign. But while el-Sayed may well score a win for the progressives, it's a more mixed picture nationally. Political analyst Ron Brownstein joins us to discuss.

Also on today's show: Lawton Nuss, Former Chief Justice, Kansas Supreme Court; Annie Jacobsen, Author, "Biological War: A Scenario"
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The European Union held an emergency meeting today over Thursday's surge of migrants into Spanish territory. Some are also blaming Spain's liberal migration policies as a factor, while others accuse Moroccan authorities of facilitating the crisis. Nathalie Tocci is an Italian foreign policy expert and former adviser to the EU's foreign policy chief, and she joins the show from Rome.

Also on today's show: Ashish Jha, Former White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator; Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, Editor and co-translator, “Open Wide the Doors”; Karla Murthy, Director/Producer/Editor, “The Gas Station Attendant”


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Ukraine has been stepping up its long-range attacks inside Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to pound Kyiv, with a massive missile attack over the weekend. Dara Massicot is a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at Carnegie and has just returned from a research trip to Ukraine. She joins the show from Washington.

Also on today's show: Chris Krebs, Former United States Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; financial journalist William Cohan


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