Tonight on Amanpour and Company, Friday, June 12th, 2026

James Verini
Author, "The Theater"
Day after day, Russia pounds Ukraine as President Putin claims he's winning a war now in its fifth year. Increasingly audacious long-range Ukrainian strikes are challenging Putin's narrative. This week, Ukraine attacked an arms factory and an oil refinery deep inside Russia. Ukraine also hit the Russian-occupied port of Mariupol, a strategically important site that was taken by Russian forces early in the war. The city suffered grievously in one of the first instances of Russian atrocities against civilians. Many people took refuge in a theater that was then bombed on March 16, 2022. This critical episode of the war is the subject of a new book, "The Theater," by journalist James Verini. The author joins the show from New York.

REPORT: NEW OPERA SPOTLIGHTS UKRAINE'S STOLEN CHILDREN
Among the war crimes suffered by the citizens of Mariupol was the abduction of Ukrainian children into Russia — children stolen from their families, from their country, from their lives. A new opera is giving voice to that pain.

Mark Strong
Actor, "Oedipus"
and
Lesley Manville
Actor, "Oedipus"
Actor Lesley Manville took home her first Tony Award this week for her lead role, alongside Mark Strong, in the new play "Oedipus." The production, written by Robert Icke, re-imagines the Sophocles tragedy as a contemporary political thriller. We revisit Christiane's conversation with the stars for an intimate, inside view of this new-old classic.

Rebecca Winthrop
Director, Brookings Institution Center for Universal Education
As the AI revolution continues apace, we're increasingly considering the impact it will have on the future — including its effect on students' ability to think and write creatively. A study by Georgetown University looks into exactly that. Rebecca Winthrop, a leading expert on AI and education, discusses it all with Michel Martin.

Tonight on Amanpour and Company Airs weekdays at PBS. Check local listings.

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