First, we bring you the latest on the contentious confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's nominee for US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. Then, with fire weather risk at its highest, Christiane asks former California Governor Jerry Brown what more could have been done? And, is the world ready for the next pandemic? The director general of the World Health Organization joins the show.

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The winds are picking up again and the death toll is rising in what could be the worst wildfires in California’s history. It's an all-out race against the environment as firefighters battle to keep the blazes contained and maintain what progress they've made in the past few days. More than 20 people are confirmed dead, dozens more are missing, over a hundred thousand people are under evacuation orders, and thousands of homes are destroyed. Correspondent Veronica Miracle has the details from Altadena.

Also on today's show: Robert Kagan, Contributing Writer, The Atlantic; Director/writer Halina Reijn ("Babygirl"); Co-Directors Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo ("Porcelain War") 

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Donald Trump may not be back in the White House yet, and he's already causing ructions overseas. Not just threatening to invade and annex allies, like Greenland, Panama, and Canada, but also allowing his unelected wingman, Elon Musk—using his X platform—to troll world leaders and interfere in democracies abroad. Christiane speaks with tech journalist Kara Swisher and the director of the British Future think tank, Sunder Katwala, about what’s driving Musk’s freelancing in international politics and how dangerous his influence on Trump is. She also gets into the specifics of the two decades old grooming scandal and why Musk's accusations against Keir Starmer are wrong. With wildfires raging in California, President Biden's outgoing DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas joined Christiane to talk about the extreme weather emergency, Trump's promise of mass deportations, and how the terror attack on New Years Day has been politicized. And, A new film by Oscar-winner Errol Morris, "Separated," based on Jacob Soboroff’s bestselling book, examines the lasting trauma of family separation under Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy during his first term. Christiane sits down with Morris and Soboroff to talk about about their film, the human cost and the chilling possibility of history repeating itself. And as President Jimmy Carter is laid to rest, Christiane revisits their 2007 interview, which explores the late president's reflections on faith and his complicated history with Israel. 

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It is ten days until Donald Trump reenters the White House and by his side will be the world's richest man - Elon Musk. In the UK, Musk has stoked the flames of the far-right and misinformation. Musk also sought to interfere in Germany's upcoming elections, posting that the only thing that could save Germany is the AFD. To discuss all things Musk, longtime tech journalist Kara Swisher and the director of British Future Sunder Katwala join Christiane. 

Also on today's show: Director Pedro Almodovar, "The Room Next Door"; Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale 

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Wildfires continue to rage out of control in Southern California. Tens of thousands of residents have been forced to flee and in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, and more than one thousand structures have been destroyed in Altadena, forcing most of the town to evacuate. Reporter Kyung Lah joins the program with the details.

Also on today's show: James Fallows, former chief speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter; Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University; Kai Bird, author of the Jimmy Carter bio "Outlier" 

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We're witnessing massive destruction and harrowing escapes in Southern California as out-of-control wildfires sweep across Los Angeles County. Extreme weather events are on the rise, and just one of the many threats across the desk of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Now preparing to hand over his brief to the incoming Trump administration, he joins the show from Washington, DC.

Also on today's show: Director Ibrahim Nash'at, "Hollywoodgate"; Wine on Wheels founder Yannick Benjamin 

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This week, the world bids farewell to President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29. As a one-term President beset by crises, including high inflation and the Iranian hostage crisis, Carter's legacy for a long time seemed mixed at best. But throughout his long post-presidency, he devoted himself to peace-making, eradicating diseases, and public service in a way that gradually reframed his earlier accomplishments. Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat knew Carter well, having served as his chief domestic policy adviser, and argues he "was our most accomplished one-term modern President." He joins the show from Washington, DC. 

Also on today's show: "Sing Sing" Director Greg Kwedar and actor Colman Domingo; Bruce Hoffman, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations 

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On January 20, Donald Trump will be inaugurated at the US Capitol, where four years ago today his supporters attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 election. On the world stage, the new administration will confront a slew of challenges from the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza to tense relations with China. David Petraeus is well known as a highly decorated four-star general and the former Director of the CIA. He recently joined Christiane to forecast the opportunities and pitfalls facing the new administration.

Also on today's show: Former Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna; former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn 

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A special show for the holidays, looking back on some of the biggest events, cultural hits and Christiane's best interviews this year. One year after the outgoing Biden administration struck a deal to bring him and four other Iranian Americans back home, Siamak Namazi, the longest held American in Iran, speaks with Christiane about his captivity in Iran's Evin prison, the torture he underwent and what it feels like to be free. Then, Christiane sits down with Hollywood legend Tom Hanks and his co-writer Christopher Riley to discuss their unique documentary "The Moonwalkers," capturing humanity's obsession with space travel. She also revisits an exclusive report from Ukraine, where she gained access to a medical evacuation train used by the Ukrainian army to transport wounded soldiers from near the frontlines to hospitals around the country. Afterwards, "True Detective" stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis speak with Christiane about the latest season of the hit series released to critical acclaim. Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep and former Afghan politicians, negotiator Fawzia Koofi and Dr. Habiba Sarabi, also join Christiane to talk about their new documentary called "The Sharp Edge of Peace," following the doomed efforts to negotiate with the Taliban. And finally, in a moving interview during celebrations marking 80 years since the D-Day landings in Normandy, 101 year old U.S. army veteran Jake Larson speaks with Christiane about the shared values he and his fellow servicemen fought for during World War II.

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Christiane's world exclusive with Iran's notorious women's rights activist, Narges Mohammadi, who last year was awarded the Nobel peace prize, and who has spent much of the past 20 years in Evin prison. She is accused of “spreading propaganda" and acting against the country's national security. Mohammadi was recently released on a 3-week medical furlough to recover from surgery and made the courageous decision to speak out—on this program— knowing she is gong back to jail. Plus, press freedom at risk in the United States and around the democratic world, former Washington Post Executive Editor, Martin Baron tells Christiane what’s in the Trump toolbox to legally assault the press and how to protect our constitutional right to free speech. Then, as 51 verdicts came down against Gisele Pelicot's abusers in the mass rape trial that stunned France and caught the world's attention, Saskya's Vandoorne's special report, with exclusive access to police records, on how dozens of men in one town became complicit in this horrifying crime. From Christiane's archive this week, the taxi driver who put aside ethnic divisions and became a hero to the needy during under siege in Sarajevo. And finally, Christiane speaks with Edward Berger, director of the film "Conclave," which depicts the knives out battle to elect a new pop in the Catholic Church. 

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America faces chaos in Washington, again, with the US government just hours away from shutting down. Barring an early Christmas miracle, the proverbial lights go off at midnight tonight. Norm Ornstein, veteran political observer, joins the show to discuss. 

Also on today's show: Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director, Syrian Emergency Task Force; Charlie Warzel, Staff Writer, The Atlantic; Edward Berger, Director, "Conclave" 

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