>>> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO "AMANPOUR AND COMPANY."

HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, RESULTS WHAT MATTERS, AND WHAT MATTERS NOW, THE PRISONERS ARE BACK WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

>> MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE QATARI PRIME MINISTER ABOUT THEIR ROLE IN THE U.S./IRAN PRISONER DEAL, AND THE EMOTIONAL FAMILY REUNIONS, AFTER EIGHT YEARS BEHIND BARS.

WE GET THE FIRST REACTION FROM SIAMAK THAT MAZ SI'S BROTHER ON HIS LONG FIGHT TO GET HIS LOVED ONE HOME.

THEN -- >> WE MUST ACT UNITED TO DEFEAT THE AGGRESSOR AND FOCUS ON ALL OUR CAPABILITIES AND ENERGY AND ADDRESSING THIS CHALLENGES.

>> DOES THE GLOBAL FOCUS ON UKRAINE DIVERT ENERGY AWAY FROM THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY?

FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND CLIMATE CAMPAIGNER AL GORE JOINS ME.

ALSO AHEAD -- >>> XI JINPING IS A NO-SHOW HERE.

BUT THE THORNY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES IS FRONT CENTER HERE.

I TALK TO THE SINGAPORE YAN FOREIGN MINISTER.

AND -- >> HE SAID, I UNDEREST MATED YOU.

>> THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

50 YEARS SINCE BILLIE JEAN KING DEFEATED BOBBY RIGGS.

SHE JOINS THE PROGRAM, ON WINNING, AND NEVER BETTING AGAINST WOMEN.

>>> "AMANPOUR AND COMPANY" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- CANDACE KING WEIR.

THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF LEILA AND MICKEY STRAUS.

JIM ATTWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS.

MARK J. BLECHNER.

SETON J. MELVIN.

CHARLES ROSENBLUM.

KOO AND PATRICIA YUEN, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG.

>>> ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THESE FUNDERS, AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE, I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, OUTSIDE THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK.

HOME, AFTER YEARS OF AGONY AND FRUSTRATION, AFTER YEARS OF A NIGHTMARE.

THIS WEEK, THE WORLD HAS NOW SEEN FIVE AMERICANS FREES FROM IRANIAN DETENTION, AND FINALLY ABLE TO HUG THEIR FAMILIES.

SINCE THEY TOUCHED DOWN ON U.S.

SOIL, THIS, AFTER BEING RELEASED AS PART OF AN AGREEMENT BROKERED BY QATAR THAT INCLUDES A PRISONER SWAP AND THE U.S. UNFREEZING $6 BILLION IN IRANIAN FUNDS HELD IN SOUTH KOREA.

IN A MOMENT, MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE QATARI PRIME MINISTER ABOUT THIS DEAL.

BUT FIRST, HERE IS BABAK THAT NAMAZI, ON HIS BROTHER BEING FREED.

>> THIS IS THE REAL HERO OF THIS STORY, SURVIVING EIGHT YEARS OF BRUTAL TREATMENT, BUT NEVER LOSING HOPE.

AND SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE HOPEFUL, WHEN YOU FIGHT, WHY AM I SAYING THIS?

IT'S OVER.

I'M DONE.

I'M DONE.

>> NOW, SIAMAK SPENT NEARLY EIGHT YEARS IN JAIL, AS HE SAID TO ME, ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS AMERICAN.

HE HAD NEVER DONE SO MUCH AS JAYWALKING.

AND WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM FROM THERE, FROM THE PRISON IN MARCH, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.

MY VERY HUMANITY HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

AND IN A STATEMENT AFTER HIS RELEASE, HE SAID, "I AM NOT SPECIAL, ALL I DID WAS NOT GIVE UP AND SURVIVE.

BUT MY HEROES ARE MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHER, WHO SUFFERED WITH ME EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I WAS CAPTIVE."

AND NOW, BABAK IS JOINING US FROM WASHINGTON, AND THESE ARE HIS FIRST COMMENTS AFTER BEING REUNITED WITH HIS BROTHER.

SO, BABAK, YOU KNOW, WELCOME, FIRST OF ALL, WELCOME BACK TO THIS PROGRAM, AND I THINK I CAN GENUINELY ASK YOU TODAY, HOW ARE YOU?

>> I CAN GENUINELY SAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS, I'M DOING GREAT.

IT'S SURREAL.

>> AND HOW IS SIAMAK?

>> HE'S IN SHOCK, HE'S IN AWE, HE'S -- JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.

I'VE DREAMT OF THIS MOMENT FOR EIGHT YEARS, CHRISTIANE, AND I HONESTLY CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HERE.

I HONESTLY CAN'T.

I'VE EMBRACED HIM, I'VE HELD HIM, I'M SQUEEZED HIM, I'VE KISSED HIM, AND -- IT'S JUST NOT REAL.

I'VE DREAMT OF THIS, AND I'VE WOKEN UP FROM THESE DREAMS AND I'M JUST HOPING IT'S NOT ANOTHER DREAM.

SO, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DIGEST THE ENORMITY OF BEING REUNITED AFTER EIGHT HORRIFIC YEARS OF SEPARATION, OF BRUTALITY, OF INHUMANITY, AND, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, IN MY CASE, I HAD THE HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING NOT JUST SIAMAK, BUT ALSO MY DAD BEING HELD CAPTIVE, SO -- I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT FINALLY THIS NIGHTMARE HAS COME TO AN END.

IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

>> I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER IN A MOMENT, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUFFERED SO MUCH IN THEIR OWN WAYS, AS YOU ALL HAVE AS A FAMILY.

BUT TELL ME WHAT IT WAS LIKE AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING, ON TUESDAY, WHEN YOUR MOTHER AND SIAMAK, THEY BOTH CAME OUT OF IRAN TOGETHER VIA QATAR AIRWAYS, AND A DOHA STOP, THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, TRANSMITTED ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

THE WHOLE WORLD WAS ABLE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

HOW DID -- WHAT -- WHAT WAS IT LIKE, THOSE FIRST MOMENTS?

DID YOU ALL RUSH TOGETHER?

HOW DID YOU PROCESS THAT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE'VE BECOME LIKE A FAMILY WITH THE OTHER HOSTAGE FAMILIES.

ILL REALLY HAVE TO SAY, I FELT LIKE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE THERE WITH ME.

IT WAS A COLLECTIVE SENSE OF CELEBRATION AND JUST INTENSE, POSITIVE ENERGY.

YOU MEAN, WE'VE COME TOGETHER AS FAMILIES FOR SO MANY YEARS, ADVOCATING TOGETHER, CRYING TOGETHER, AND JUST PRAYING TOGETHER, AND MAYBE AT TIMES BEING HOPELESS TOGETHER, BUT BEING AT THAT OCCASION TOGETHER, WAITING FOR THE PLANE, STARING AT THE SKY, IT WAS A CLEAR SKY, IT WAS BRIGHT STARS, AND SEEING THAT PLANE APPROACH, I MEAN, MY KNEES WERE SHAKING.

I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT.

AND -- WITH THE OTHER FAMILIES, I MEAN -- >> YEAH.

>> REALLY, WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE SO -- FEELING SO, YOU KNOW, PROFOUNDLY ISOLATED FOR SO LONG AT TIMES, AND THEN AT THAT MOMENT, FEELING THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS COME TOGETHER, BECAUSE I HONESTLY FELT -- >> YEAH.

>> THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS CELEBRATING WITH US, AND GETTING MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE I'VE NEVER HEARD OF, AND PEOPLE, OF COURSE, I KNEW.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

JUST AMAZING.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN SIAMAK CALLED ME FROM PRISON IN MARCH, HE ALLUDED TO HIS VERY, VERY BAD TREATMENT, CERTAINLY IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT HE WASN'T ABLE TO SAY A HUGE AMOUNT, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, HE WAS STILL NOT FREE.

AND HE ALSO WASN'T ABLE TO SAY THE TORTURE HE HAD ENDURED, ABOUT WHAT THE GUARDS TOLD HIM ABOUT YOUR FATHER, YOU KNOW -- CAN YOU TELL ME WHETHER HE'S TOLD YOU STUFF, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW HE WAS TREATED?

HOW THEY, YOU KNOW, MISHANDLED AND MISTREATED YOUR FATHER AND THE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FATHER IN JAIL?

>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO SAY IT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU HEAR THESE STORIES, OR HEAR THESE -- WHAT I HEARD ABOUT SIAMAK AND THEN MY DAD, MY MIND COULDN'T PROCESS, YOU KNOW, BOTH FROM MY BROTHER AND MY DAD, BUT IN PARTICULAR, FOR MY DAD, I MEAN, WHO -- WHO TAKES AN 80-YEAR-OLD MAN AND PUTS THEM IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, WHEN THEY'RE SCREAMING FOR HELP BECAUSE THEY'RE FEELING CLAUSTROPHOBIC IN A VERY SMALL CELL AND THEY TELL HIM -- IT'S JUST HORRIBLE.

IT'S -- I SAW AND HEARD OF THE SIGHT OF INHUMANITY I COULDN'T FATHOM EXISTED, BUT TODAY, I'M GRATEFUL THAT THEY SURVIVED.

I HONESTLY NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE MY FATHER AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS RELEASED AFTER SOME INTENSE MEDICAL AILMENTS AND EMERGENCY HEART SURGERIES AND, I MEAN, IT TOOK ALMOST HIM DYING FOR HIM TO BE RELEASED OUT OF PRISON.

AND THEN IT TOOK ANOTHER TWO YEARS, I MEAN, TO GET THIS POOR OLD MAN, WHO WAS ONLY, LIKE, METERS AWAY FROM HIS SON IN PRISON AND COULDN'T SEE HIM FOR A YEAR.

I JUST -- MY MIND COULDN'T PROCESS THIS, NOT JUST AS A FAMILY MEMBER, BUT AS A HUMAN BEING.

I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT CRIMES ARE ALLEGED, WHY THIS KIND OF TREATMENT, BUT AGAIN, I'M GRATEFUL THEY SURVIVED.

MY DAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY HERO, HAS ALWAYS BEEN SIAMAK'S HERO.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THE PAIN HE WENT THROUGH, IS GOING THROUGH, HAVING HIS SON GO THROUGH THIS.

MY MOM, OF COURSE, JUST THE MOST AMAZING WOMAN.

I COULDN'T TALK THAT MUCH ABOUT HER, BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS TERRIFIED FOR HER, BEING ALONE IN IRAN.

I JUST IN AWE THAT WHILE I SAW THE WORST OF HUMANITY, AT THE SAME TIME, I SAW THE BEST OF HUMANITY IMMEDIATELY FROM MY OWN FAMILY, WHEN MY MOM AND MY DAD WERE ALWAYS TRYING TO GIVE ME COVERAGE WHEN I FELT I SHOULD BE GIVING THEM COURAGE, AND OF COURSE, SSIAMAK, CHRISTIANE, THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW HE FOUGHT BACK WITH WHAT LITTLE HE HAD, TO TRY TO GET OUT OF THAT HELL HOLE, HOW HE TRIED TO SCREAM.

I THOUGHT I WAS DOING IT, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT DOING ENOUGH, BECAUSE IT TOOK EIGHT YEARS.

AND I'M SO GLAD HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS VOICE HEARD WHILE HE WAS IN IRANIAN CUSTODY, AND AGAIN, THIS AMAZING MOMENT, WHICH, FOR ME, WAS ONLY A DREAM, IT FELT, AFTER EIGHT YEARS, I MEAN, 2,898 DAYS FOR SIAMAK, TWO-THIRDS OF THAT FOR MY DAD.

IF YOU TAKE THE OTHER HOSTAGES, WHO HAVE BECOME LIKE OUR BROTHERS, OH, MY GOD, CHRISTIANE, I MEAN, THEY'RE HOME.

AND -- >> YEAH.

>> NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED, AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I DID AND OTHER FAMILIES DID, IT SEEMED WE WERE GOING NOWHERE, THAT THEY WERE JUST GOING IN CIRCLES FOR ALL THIS TIME, AND THE TIME FINALLY CAME.

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN WHO MADE THE VERY, VERY BRAVE AND DIFFICULT DECISION, BUT HE PUTS, YOU KNOW, HE PUT THE LIVES OF AMERICANS FIRST, AND, YOU KNOW, HE BROUGHT OUR FAMILIES HOME, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO BE TOGETHER AFTER THESE DREADFUL YEARS.

YOU KNOW, SIMPLE ACTS OF JUST BEING THE FOUR OF US TOGETHER.

WE WERE DEPRIVED OF PHYSICALLY BEING IN THE SAME ROOM FOR FOUR YEARS, CHRISTIANE.

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT ALONE -- >> NO, I CAN'T.

YEAH, I CAN'T, AND THAT'S WHY THIS IS SUCH AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY, AND I DO THINK THAT YOUR BROTHER DESERVES A HUGE AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR THE COURAGE HE TOOK TO CALL AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FROM A PRISON CELL -- >> TERRIFIED ME.

>> WE ALL KNOW WHAT THAT PRISON IS ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

AND BELIEVE ME, THE RESPONSIBILITY ON US WAS HEAVY, AS WELL.

WE HOPED THAT IT DID NOT BACKFIRE AGAINST HIM, AND FORTUNATELY, THE RESULT, ANYWAY, MONTHS LATER, IS RELEASE, SO, WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT CAN I ASK YOU, HE'S BEEN OFFERED BY THE UNITED STATES, YOU KNOW, RE-ENTRY COUNSELING, THERAPY, ALL OF THAT.

IS HE AVAILING HIMSELF OF THAT?

AND HOW DO YOU -- I KNOW YOU SAY HE'S IN SHOCK.

WHAT IS HIS STATE OF MIND?

AND HOW HAS HE BEEN WITH YOUR PARENTS AND YOU?

>> I MEAN, YES, TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, HE HAS ACCEPTED IT AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AFTER GOING THROUGH THAT HORROR AND JUST BEING ISOLATED AND GOING THROUGH WHAT HE DID, IT'S APPRECIATED THAT WE ARE GETTING THE SUPPORT GETTING MEDICAL CHECKUPS, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE, WHATEVER'S NEEDED, AND THAT, HE'S IN THAT PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.

I ANTICIPATE HE'LL BE THERE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

IT GIVES HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION, AS OPPOSED TO JUST COMING OUT AND -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY GRATEFUL, AS WELL, AND APPRECIATIVE OF BEING FREE.

I SAW THIS UNRAVELING ON CNN, OBVIOUSLY, AS DID MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, AND THERE WAS THAT ONE MOMENT WHEN HE'S COMING OUT ON THE PLANE, AND HE -- YOU CAN TELL THAT HE TAKES THAT SIGH OF, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST BREATH OF FREE AIR.

INCREDIBLE.

INCREDIBLE, NEVER -- YEAH, IT'S JUST AMAZING.

>> YEAH, WE SAW HIM AND WE'RE SEEING IT NOW.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

WE'RE SEEING THE FIRST PICTURES AS HE STOPPED AND LOOKED AROUND ON THE STEPS OF THE QATAR AIRWAYS PLANE, AND HE SAID IN HIS STATEMENT, HE WANTS TO LIE ON THE GRASS, FEEL THE SUN ON HIS FACE.

I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU ONE LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE YOUR LAWYER CALLED YOUR MOTHER THE SILENT HERO.

SHE HAD BEEN THERE PRETTY MUCH ALL ALONG, EVEN THOUGH SHE COULD HAVE LEFT, SHE DIDN'T.

>> I IMPLORED HER, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SIAMAK, YOU KNOW, GO, I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

AT THIS AGE FOR HER AND MY DAD, BUT YOU KNOW, FOR HER TO BE IN SUCH A SITUATION, I WAS LIKE, MOM, COME OUT, AND SIAMAK, OF COURSE, WE'LL KEEP FIGHTING, BUT HE -- SHE'S A MOTHER.

BE IT AN INFANT OR 80-YEAR-OLD CHILD, SHE COULD NOT ABANDON HER CHILD, AND SHE STOOD WITH HIM, AND MY DAD, OF COURSE, UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT POSSIBLE, AND IN SPITE OF THE INTENSE AND INCREDIBLE PRESSURE SHE WAS ON, SHE FOUGHT ON.

SHE'S A RESILIENT WOMAN.

SHE HAS GIVEN ME SO MUCH TO LEARN, AS WELL AS SIAMAK, AND SHE WAITED UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT THAT SHE COULD, WHICH WAS GET ON THAT PLANE WITH SIAMAK TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S SAFE.

SO -- MOM, WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN, OF COURSE, ALL OF US.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL, VERY EMOTIONAL.

AND YOU ARE A GREAT FAMILY.

YOU'VE HAD SUCH STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH THIS.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> WE'RE GRATEFUL.

THANK YOU, CHRISTIANE.

>> YES, YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT.

>>> LET'S TALK NOW AND TURN TO QATAR, THE COUNTRY THAT DID HELP MEDIATE THIS DEAL IN GREAT PART.

MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, MOHAMMED BIN JASSIM AL THANI.

HE HOPES THIS WILL LEAD TO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.

PRIME MINISTER, WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL US ABOUT THIS AMAZING DEAL THAT YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING SO SEAL.

WHAT WAS IT, OR WHAT WAS THE MOMENT THAT YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE TO REACH A DEAL BETWEEN IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES TO FREE THE PRISONERS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE FAMILIES OF THE PRISONERS, TO HAVE THEM BACK AND SEEING THEM AND THEY HOPE ALL OF THEM ARE IN GOOD HEALTH.

WE ALWAYS BELIEVE -- WE ALWAYS HAVE A FAITH AND BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HELP, WE CAN -- WE CAN FACILITATE, ESPECIALLY HUMANITARIAN SITUATIONS.

WE -- WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT OF CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS, HONESTLY, NONE OF THE PARTIES WAS EASY IN THE NEGOTIATION, BUT WE TRIED OUR BEST IN ORDER TO CREATE A TRUST BETWEEN US AND THEM AND CREATED A TRUST BETWEEN THEM, IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS DEAL HAPPENING.

IT TOOK US MONTH UNTIL WE REACHED THIS AGREEMENT, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THE DESIRE AND THE DETERMINATION OF BOTH PARTIES TO IMPLEMENT THEIR AGREEMENT IN GOOD FAITH, THAN IS SOMETHING WE COMMEND BOTH PARTIES FOR DOING IT.

>> GOODISH FAITH.

THEY WEREN'T EVEN TOGETHER, RIGHT?

THEY WEREN'T IN THE SAME HOTELS, YOU HAD TO RELAY BACK AND FORTH.

>> WELL, EVERYTHING HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, RESULTS WHAT MATTERS, PRISONERS ARE BACK WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

>> AS A HUMAN BEING, DID YOU FIND IT EMOTIONAL WHEN THE WHOLE WORLD SAW ON LIVE TELEVISION THE QATARI AIRWAYS PLANE TOUCH DOWN?

>> WE WERE SO PROUD, DEFINITELY.

ALL OF US ON ALL LEVELS FROM HIS HIGHNESS, MYSELF, THE ENTIRE GOVERNMENT, THE PEOPLE OF QATAR, WE ARE SO PROUD THAT QATAR COULD MAKE SUCH A THING.

>> MANY PEOPLE LIKE TO THINK THAT THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING OF -- BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRAN.

THE U.S. HAS RULED THAT OUT, MAYBE IRAN HAS, AS WELL.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A BUILDING BLOCK?

PERHAPS IT COULD LEAD TO A NEW NUCLEAR DEAL?

>> WELL, LOOK, CHRISTIANE, I CANNOT CLAIM THIS WILL LEAD TO A NUCLEAR DEAL, BUT IT'S GOING DEFINITELY LEAD TO A BETTER ENVIRONMENT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS MEDIATING BETWEEN COUNTRIES, MEDIATING IN DIFFERENT ISSUES FOR DECADES NOW, AND IN OUR EXPERIENCE, WE KNOW THAT IN COMPLEX SITUATIONS, YOU NEED TO UNLOCK IT BY BUILDING THE CONFIDENCE BETWEEN THE PARTIES, AND I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, ACTUALLY, WAS A GREAT BUILDING BLOCK FOR REBUILDING THE CONFIDENCE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.

I HOPE BOTH COUNTRIES ARE BELIEVING THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO BETTER ENVIRONMENT TO GO FOR AN ENTIRE AGREEMENT ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE, AND ANY OTHER OUTSTANDING ISSUE.

AT THE END OF THE DAYS, WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR REGION, STABILITY.

>> CAN I JUST ASK YOU, YOU KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE IRAN/SAUDI ARABIA REPROACHMENT, THROUGH CHINA, THEN EVEN BIGGER, PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WELL, MAYBE IRAN AND MAYBE SAUDI ARABIA AND ISRAEL, MAYBE THERE'S A HUGE, BIG MIDDLE EASTERN DEAL TO BE DONE.

DO YOU SEE THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

>> WELL, DEFINITELY THE MIDDLE EAST AND ESPECIALLY WITH US IN THE REGION, WENT THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BEFORE THAT, WE WERE GOING THROUGH CHALLENGES, NOW WE ARE GOING IN A BETTER, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT OF REPROACHMENT.

WE HEAR ALSO, YOU KNOW, ABOUT ISRAEL, BUT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, AS STATE OF QATAR, WE SEE THAT -- WE DON'T HAVE A WAR WITH ISRAEL, AS A REGION.

THE REASON THAT WE HAVE THE CONFLICT WITH ISRAEL IS OVER THE OCCUPATION OF THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.

AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE STATE FOR THE PALESTINIANS, AND THAT'S WHAT BASICALLY BEING MENTIONED IN OUR PEACE INITIATIVE THAT CAME OUT IN 2001 AND ALL ARAB COUNTRIES HAS ADOPTED THAT.

WE BELIEVE TO BRING PEACE TO THE REGION, THE STARTING POINT SHOULD BE BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS.

NORMALIZATION AGREEMENT HAPPENING BETWEEN COUNTRIES IS THEIR SOVEREIGN DECISION AT THE END OF THE DAY.

NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO QUESTION THAT, AS NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO QUESTION OUR SOVEREIGN FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS, BUT WE THINK THAT FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE ISRAELI ISSUE IS ONLY THE ISSUE OF THE PALESTINIANS.

>> AND YET IT SEEMS THAT THAT ISSUE IS OFF THE FRONT BURNER.

NOBODY IS PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO THAT.

AND I WANT TO ASK YOU, MANY, EVEN AMERICANS I'VE TALKED TO, FEEL THAT THERE IS A -- A SORT OF SUCKING SOUND AS THE UNITED STATES PULLS OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST.

DO YOU FEEL THAT?

THE U.S. IS PULLING BACK ITS INFLUENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WITH WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE SEEN MORE AND MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE U.S. WE SEE THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE DEFENSE OF THE GULF REGION, AND THE JOINT TRAININGS ARE ONGOING, AND WE HAVE A GREAT MILITARY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK TOGETHER HOSTING MORE THAN 10,000 U.S. MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORMS, AND WE DIDN'T SEE ANY CHANGES IN THAT HAPPENING.

WE BELIEVE THAT, YES, THE WORLD IS, I MEAN, THEY ARE BUSY WITH OTHER THINGS -- >> LIKE CHINA, THERE'S A SHIFT TOWARDS CHINA.

>> THERE'S ALSO THE RUSSIAN/UKRAINIAN WAR SOMETHING BIG THAT'S HAPPENING TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I WON'T CALL IT REPRIORITIZING, BUT IT'S TAKING -- IT'S TAKING MORE TIME, OF COURSE, FROM THEM THAN THE MIDDLE EAST.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY CONCERTED EFFORTS TO TRY TO PUSH PUTIN TOWARDS BASICALLY ENDING THIS WAR OR FIGURING OUT A WAY TO NEGOTIATE IT?

AND YOU'VE ALL AGREED, I MEAN, YOU VOTED, THE MAJORITY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE U.N. FAMILY HAS VOTED TO CONDEMN THE ILLEGAL INVASION.

AND YET, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A COORDINATED, CONCERTED MOVEMENT TO PUTIN TO EXPLAIN THAT NOBODY SUPPORTS HIM IN THIS WAR.

>> WELL, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, CHRISTIANE, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE AGAINST THIS WAR FROM THE BEGINNING.

INVADING COUNTRY, OCCUPYING TERRITORY IS SOMETHING NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR US, FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

IT'S VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR WITH.

WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALWAYS SEE TALKS ABOUT CONTINUATION OF WAR, BUT NOT REALLY HOW TO SEEK PEACE AND HOW TO END THIS WAR, AND THIS IS SOMETHING VERY FRUSTRATING FOR US, AND FOR A LOT OF COUNTRIES, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED OR CALLED TODAY THE GLOBAL SOUTH, BECAUSE THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM THE RESULTS OF THIS WAR, THE GRAIN SUPPLY, THE ENERGY SUPPLY.

AND WE HAVE SEEN THIS EVEN THROUGHOUT THE DEBATE HERE AT THE U.N.

THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE SEEN VERY STRONG MOMENTUM FROM THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FROM THE U.S., TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.

WE TOTALLY WANT TO STAND WITH ANY COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO ATTACK, BUT ALSO, THIS IS RAISING THE BAR ON EXPECTATION FOR OTHER SMALLER COUNTRIES, WHICH BELIEVE THEY ARE NEGLECTED IN THAT.

AND THEY BECAME MORE AND MORE EXCITED THIS APPROACH WAS ADVOCATED FOR UKRAINE WOULD BE ADVOCATED FOR THEM, WITH THE OCCUPATION OF THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES.

THE WORLD CANNOT BE HELD IN DOUBLE STANDARDS.

THAT'S WHAT'S NOW THE BOTTOM LINE FOR MOST OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

AND THEY WANT TO SEE THE SAME COMMITMENT TOWARD THEM, AS WELL, AND THIS IS, I THINK, THIS IS THE KEY, AND THE KEY NOW IS HOW TO FIND PEACE IN THAT WAR AND END IT AND ANY OCCUPATION, BUT ALSO TO LOOK AT THE OTHER ISSUES, THE SUFFERING OF THE SYRIAN PEOPLE, THE PALESTINIANS, AND OTHERS LIKE THE ROHINGYAS IN MYANMAR, ALL OVER THE WORLD, WE SEE THESE CONFLICTS.

>> YOUR REGION IS BASICALLY STRADDLING THE FENCE ON THIS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, WHAT WOULD QATAR THINK IF PUTIN WON?

IF PUTIN WINS?

>> WINS THE WAR?

>> YES.

>> VIOLATING -- WHAT'S THE DEFINITION OF WINNING VIEWINNING?

VIOLATING THE INTERNATIONAL LAW BY CHANGING BORDERS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR ANY COUNTRY, SHOULDN'T BE ACCEPTABLE FOR ANYONE.

WE HOPE THAT THIS WAR ENDED IN A PEACEFUL WAY, EACH COUNTRY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER CONCERN, BUT THE BORDERS ARE NOT CHANGED.

>> AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WE UNDERSTAND THAT QATAR IS DOING QUITE A LOT TO TRY TO HELP BRING THE ABDUCTED CHURN BACK, AND OBVIOUSLY PUTIN HAS BEEN INDICTED, AS WELL AS HIS, YOU KNOW, CHIEF CHILD ADMINISTRATOR IN RUSSIA, FOR THE ABDUCTION OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

>> WELL, I WAS VISITING RUSSIA AND I ALREADY -- I HAD A MEETING WITH THE PUTIN, I SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES, THE CHILDREN ISSUE WAS ONE OF THE TOP ITEMS, AND MY AGENDA.

THEY HAVE ACCEPTED THE COOPERATION FROM OUR SIDE.

WE HAVE STARTING NOW THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN US AND THEN, AND, OF COURSE, THE COMMISSION IN UKRAINE WHOM I VISITED AFTER THAT, AND I VISITED THE COMMISSION ITSELF AND THEIR HEADQUARTERS, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THEIR CHILDREN OVER THERE.

IN QATAR, WE SEE THAT, YES, WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT IN MEDIATION.

THIS WAR IS SOMETHING BIG GLOBALLY, AND WE THINK THAT WE CAN HELP IN SOME HUMANITARIAN ASPECTS OF THAT, AND, OF COURSE, THE CHILDREN IS ONE OF THE TOP OF OUR AGENDA.

>> PRIME MINISTER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, INDEED.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHRISTIANE.

>>> AND THE SECOND PART OF THAT INTERVIEW WILL AIR EITHER LATER THIS WEEK OR IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

NOW, THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY IS ACUTELY AWARE OF HOW MUCH THE WAR IN UKRAINE IS MONOPOLIZING THE CONVERSATION AT THE U.N. AND, HE ADDRESSED THAT LOUD AND CLEAR YESTERDAY, TO REMIND THE AUDIENCE THAT ENDING RUSSIA'S INVASION WILL MEAN THE WORLD CAN ACTUALLY TRY TO TURN BACK TO SOLVING ISSUES LIKE OUR EXISTENTIAL CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> AND WHEN PEOPLE IN MOROCCO AND LIBYA AND OTHER COUNTRIES DIE AS A RESULT OF NATURAL DISASTERS, AND WHEN ISLANDS AND COUNTRIES DISAPPEAR UNDER WATER, AND WHEN TORNADOES AND DESERTS ARE SPREADING INTO NEW TERRITORIES, AND WHEN ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING, A NATURAL DISASTER IN MOSCOW DECIDED TO LAUNCH A BIG WAR AND KILL TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO STOP IT.

WE MUST ACT UNITED TO DEFEAT THE AGGRESSOR AND FOCUS ALL OUR CAPABILITIES AND ENERGY ON ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES.

>> THAT LIKELY WOULD PLEASE LEADERS FROM DEVELOPING NATIONS, BECAUSE THEY LOOK TO THE INDUSTRIALIZED WORLD TO HELP THEM ADAPT TO OUR RAPIDLY WARMING SITUATION.

JOINING ME NOW IS THE FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND CLIMATE CAMPAIGNER, AL GORE.

HIS DOCUMENTARY "AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH" WON TWO OSCARS IN 2006, AND A YEAR LATER, HE WAS AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR SOUNDING THE ALARM ON OUR CLIMATE CRISIS.

AND HE'S JOINING ME RIGHT NOW.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> SO, HERE WE ARE, EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT, CLIMATE WEEK, ALL THE LEADERS, AND WHAT DO WE HAVE ONE OF THE PERMANENT FIVE MEMBERS, THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, TODAY, DECIDES TO ROLL BACK, OR SLOW WALK, THE UK'S NET ZERO AND GREEN ENERGY POLICIES.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

WHAT DOES IT SAY, ACTUALLY?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M NOT A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND IT WILL BE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UK TO DECIDE HOW TO REACT TO THIS, BUT I WILL SAY, ON A PERSONAL BASIS, I FIND IT SHOCKING, AND REALLY DISAPPOINTING, OF COURSE.

I THINK HE'S DONE THE WRONG THING.

I'VE HEARD FROM MANY OF MY FRIENDS IN THE UK, INCLUDING A LOT OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY MEMBERS, BY THE WAY, WHO HAVE USED THE PHRASE UTTER DISGUST, AND SOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THERE FEEL AS IF THEIR GENERATION'S BEEN STABBED IN THE BACK.

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY SHOCKING TO ME.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE UK TO HANDLE.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU'VE WEIGHED IN AS A GLOBAL CLIMATE LEADER, SO, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AS A POLITICIAN AND AN EXPERT.

HE CLAIMS, SUNAK, THAT THIS WILL NOT SLOW DOWN OR HURT BRITAIN'S CAPACITY TO MEET NET ZERO GOAL BY 2050, AND HIS HOME SECRETARY, WHO I'M NOT SURE HER CREDENTIALS, SHE SAYS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO SAVE THE PLANET BY BANKRUPTING THE BRITISH PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS IN THERE, REALLY.

>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FOSSIL FUEL POLLUTERS WHO HAVE LEARNED HOW TO DEFLECT THE BLAME FOR DOING WHATEVER THE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES WANT THEM TO DO.

AND, AGAIN, THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THE UK, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE NOT BEING A CITIZEN THERE SPEAKING UP IN THEIR POLITICAL SYSTEM, BUT FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS NOT WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, AND I HOPE AND EXPECT THAT -- WELL, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THE PEOPLE OF THE UK WILL BRING ABOUT A CHANGE IN THE NATION'S PERSPECTIVE, AND EVEN POSSIBLY THE LEADERSHIP.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S INTERESTING, THE UK USED TO BE A KNOWN GLOBAL LEADER ON ALL OF THIS.

>> YES, YES.

>> SO, IT REALLY IS A CHANGE.

>> YEAH.

>> HERE, I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS, AS WELL, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THE ONLY LEADER, THE ONLY LEADER OF ONE OF THE PERMANENT FIVE TO ACTUALLY BE HERE.

AND I WONDER WHAT THAT SAYS TO YOU ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE CONSENSUS, OR LACK THEREOF, THE ABILITY IN THIS DIVIDED WORLD, TO ADDRESS ISSUES BY THE MOST POWERFUL NATIONS, NOT JUST THE WAR IN UKRAINE, BUT ALSO THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD NEWS.

WE ARE SEEING DRAMATIC PROGRESS IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF SOLAR ELECTRICITY, WIND ELECTRICITY, ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

INDIA, 93% OF THEIR NEW ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION WAS SOLAR AND WIND.

88% GLOBALLY WAS RENEWABLE.

EVs ARE 20% OF NEW CAR SALES AND ON THE WAY UP RAPIDLY.

HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF THAT AND OTHER GOOD NEWS, THE CRISIS IS OBVIOUSLY STILL GETTING WORSE FASTER THAN WE ARE DEPLOYING THESE SOLUTIONS.

IN PAST, MORALLY BASED GLOBAL EFFORTS, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN, YOU KNOW, THE ABOLITION MOVEMENT, WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, THE CAMPAIGNERS, THE ADVOCATES FELT DISCOURAGED AND WORRIED, BUT THEN ONCE THE UNDERBRUSH IS CLEARED AWAY AND THE CENTRAL ISSUE IS REVEALED, AS A CHOICE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG, THEN THE OUTCOME IS OR DANED.

AND NEVER HAS BEEN IT MORE CLEAR.

LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD.

EVERY NIGHT ON THE TV NEWS IS LIKE A NATURE HIKE THROUGH THE BOOK OF REVOLUTION.

LOOK AT THE CATASTROPHE IN LIBYA, MADE 50 TIMES MORE LIKELY BY THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND THAT SAME DAY, THERE WERE OTHER CATASTROPHES ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP, AND THE -- THE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES HAVE USED THEIR WEALTH AND INFLUENCE AND POLITICAL CONNECTIONS TO SLOW THINGS DOWN, AND THEY FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL AGAINST ANYTHING THAT WOULD REDUCE THE BURNING OF OIL AND GAS AND COAL.

AND THEY -- THEY'RE MUCH BETTER AT CAPTURING POLITICIANS THAN THEY ARE AT CAPTURING EMISSIONS.

AND YOU CAN SOMETIMES TELL WHEN THEY'VE CAPTURED ONE.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN VERY LOUD AND CLEAR ABOUT THAT, SO, WHAT DO YOU MAKE, AND I KNOW YOU'VE SPOKEN ABOUT IT AT COP 27 IN EGYPT, BUT COP 28 IS GOING TO BE CHAIRED, THE PRESIDENT, IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

HE IS THE UAE DIRECTOR OF THE ABU DHABI NATIONAL OIL COMPANY.

NOW, MANY HAVE SAID, WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE EXACTLY THAT KIND OF PERSON INVOLVED, BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THIS.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE PORTRAYED -- THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY HAS PORTRAYED ITSELF AS A TRUSTED SOURCE OF THE ADVICE WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS.

THEY'RE NOT.

THEY HAVE BEEN DECEIVING US, SOME OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES HAVE COMMITTED OUTRIGHT FRAUD FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

DECEIVING PEOPLE BY PRETENDING THE CRISIS ISN'T REAL, OR THAT IT'S GOOD FOR US.

OR PRETENDING THAT THEY'RE SOLVING IT WITH SOME OF THESE CONTRAPTIONS, LIKE TRYING TO SUCK IT BACK OUT OF THE AIR AS SOON AS THEY USE THE SKY AS AN OPEN SEWER.

WE CANNOT TRUST THEM.

THEY'VE SPENT ONLY 1% OF THEIR REVENUE ON ANYTHING LIKE SOLAR AND WIND ANDLECTRIC VEHICLES.

THEY HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO KEEP ON PRODUCING MORE AND MORE FOSSIL FUELS AND BURNING IT, AND USING THE SKY AS AN OPEN SEWER.

AND IT IS HURTING EVERYONE WHO LIVES ON PLANET EARTH.

PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP TO IT, AND THEY'RE DEMANDING THAT WE CHANGE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

>> SO, IN OUR DEMOCRATIC WORLD, AS YOU SAY, PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP TO IT.

IT IS A -- IT'S ACTUALLY A VOTING ISSUE FOR MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND ACROSS THE WORLD.

SO -- WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GIVE THAT VOICE MORE POWER, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY REFLECTED IN LEADERS AND COMPANIES LIKE THE ONES YOU'RE TARGETING?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE EMERGENCE OF THE SINGLE LARGEST GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.

YOU SAW THE 75,000 PEOPLE MARCHING, THEY DIDN'T EXPECT ANYTHING LIKE THAT HERE IN MANHATTAN -- >> ON SUNDAY, WE SAW IT.

>> THIS WEEKEND.

AND IN CITIES AND COUNTRIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

IT'S NOT ONLY YOUNG PEOPLE.

PEOPLE ARE MOBILIZING NOW.

I THINK WE ARE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO A POLITICAL TIPPING POINT BEYOND WHICH POLITICAL LEADERS ARE GOING TO OPPOSE PROGRESS AT THEIR PERIL.

>> NOW, GOING BACK TO THE IDEA OF FOSSIL FUELS, LIKE THE CHICKEN, YOU KNOW, OR THE FOX IN CHARGE OF THE CHICKENS.

YOU HAVE SAID WHAT YOU'VE SAID ABOUT HOW FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES SHOULD NOT BE IN CHARGE OF THIS SITUATION, BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES NOT TO HAVE BUT NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN'S CLIMATE CZAR, JOHN KERRY, DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU.

HE SAYS, WE HAVE TO BRING ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN.

YOU KNOW IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, THE ATTENDANCE OF EXECUTIVES IS NECESSARY TO AFFECT THE CHANGE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

>> WELL, IF THIS WERE A PRO-CLIMATE ATHLETIC TEAM, I WOULD SAY HE'S PLAYING A DIFFERENT POSITION ON THE FIELD THAN I AM.

I'VE HEARD ENOUGH AND SEEN ENOUGH TO NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT THE FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES HAVE ANY CREDIBILITY.

EVERY MEASURE TO CUT THE BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS LOCALLY, AT THE STATE LEVEL, NATIONAL, OR INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, THESE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES ARE IN THERE FIGHTING TOOTH AND NAIL TO STOP, TO DELAY, TO BLOCK, AND ALL THE WHILE, PRETENDING THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO HELP OUT.

THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO HELP OUT.

IT MAY NOT BE FAIR TO EXPECT THEM TO SOLVE IT FOR US, BUT IT IS ABUNDANTLY FAIR TO ASK THEM TO STOP BLOCKING THE EFFORTS OF OTHERS TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST THEM, THOUGH, VICE PRESIDENT, BECAUSE EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SHOULD HE OR SHE FEEL SO INCLINED, CAN DO THE SAME.

PRESIDENT BIDEN DID THE, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL LEGISLATION FOR INFLATION REDUCTION, WHICH INVOLVED A LOT OF PAYMENT FOR MITIGATION, BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE HIM HACKED AND BURNED AND SLASHED AT ALL THE AMERICAN RULES AND REGULATIONS, ACTUALLY PUT PEOPLE IN PLACES BECAUSE OF THEIR HOSTILITY TO REGULATION.

SO -- RIGHT OR NOT?

>> WELL, IT IS RIGHT, BUT THERE'S -- >> NO MATTER -- >> THEY'RE NOT THE SAME AT ALL.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY PRESIDENT BIDEN BECAME PRESIDENT WAS HIS ADVOCACY FOR SOLUTIONS TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

AND WHAT HE HAS PRESIDED OVER IS THE PASSAGE OF BY FAR THE BIGGEST AND BEST CLIMATE LEGISLATION THAT ANY COUNTRY HAS EVER PASSED IN HISTORY.

HE'S DONE SOME THINGS I DON'T AGREE WITH, BUT WHAT HE HAS DONE IN A POSITIVE WAY FAR OUTWEIGHS THE REST.

HE HAS BEEN A GENUINE LEADER ON THIS ISSUE.

AND THE CONGRESS PASSED THE I.R.A.

IT'S GOING TO PUT MORE THAN A TRILLION DOLLARS INTO SPEEDING UP THE DEPLOYMENT OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY.

>> AND WHAT HAPPENS IF A DONALD TRUMP COMES BACK?

WE SAW THE -- >> I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SPECULATE ON THAT.

>> ON CLIMATE, OR SOMEBODY LIKE WITH -- >> I DON'T LIKE TO SPECULATE ON THAT, FOR THE SAME REASON I DON'T LIKE TO WATCH HORROR MOVIES.

>> SO, IT WILL BE A HORROR.

>> WELL, I -- YOU KNOW, I -- I BELIEVE IN THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, AND I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE -- >> DO YOU, THOUGH, IN TERMS OF THIS ISSUE?

>> I DO.

>> EVEN IF CONGRESS AND THE OTHERS PASS CERTAIN THINGS, YOU KNOW, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OR A COURT CASE COULD REVERSE THEM.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE OLD CLICHE, IT'S THE WORST FORM OF GOVERNMENT EVER INVENTED -- >> HOW BADLY AT RISK IS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY FOR THESE ISSUES -- >> WELL, IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE CLIMATE CRISIS, WE DO HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE DEMOCRACY CRISIS.

WE ARE SEEING THE INFLUENCE OF BIG MONEY PLAYING WAY TOO BIG A ROLE IN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE HAVE RULES NOW THAT ALLOW SECRET GIANT DONATIONS FROM CORPORATIONS WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING WHERE THEY'RE SENDING THE MONEY.

THAT IS DEADLY TO THE INTEGRITY OF DEMOCRACY.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL SET THE SHIP RIGHT.

I THINK DEMOCRACY HAS MORE RESILIENCE THAN WE SOMETIMES GIVE IT CREDIT FOR HAVING.

>> AND DO YOU THINK THAT THE UKRAINE WAR -- IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO HEAR PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY IN THERE TALK ABOUT LIBYA, MOROCCO, TALK ABOUT THE CLIMATE THAT WE'VE SEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD THIS SUMMER AND SAY, YEAH, WE ACTUALLY NEED TO SOLVE THIS WAR IN ORDER TO CONCENTRATION EVEN MORE ON THE OTHER, YOU KNOW -- >> YEAH, AND UKRAINE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A RENEWABLE ENERGY POWER HOUSE, BY THE WAY.

I'VE MET WITH THEIR SOLAR DEVELOPERS AND THEIR WIND DEVELOPERS AND THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THE EUROPEAN GRID.

THERE'S -- THEY HAVE PLANS TO BE MAJOR PARTICIPANTS IN THIS CLEAN ENERGY REVOLUTION.

>> CAN I ASK YOU ONE LAST QUESTION, WE'RE ALL GETTING UP IN YEARS, I'M NOT GOING SO ASK YOU HOW OLD YOU ARE, BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS DEBATE OVER AGE AND LEADERSHIP THAT'S SWIRLING AROUND PRESIDENT BIDEN, FOR INSTANCE?

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 40 YEARS -- >> THANKS A LOT.

>> CAREER, OKAY?

WELL, BUT LOOK, YOU'RE BETTER THAN EVER.

>> WELL, THERE YOU GO.

THAT'S TRUE.

THAT'S TRUE.

>> YOU'RE BETTER THAN EVER.

AND I THINK HONESTLY, PRESIDENT BIDEN -- I THINK HE HAS DONE AN EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD JOB IN THE MAIN.

AND I'VE LEARNED FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN THE WHITE HOUSE THAT THE PRESIDENCY IS A TEAM SPORT.

AND I THINK HE HAS ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS THAT'S EVER BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT HE'S GOING TO PREVAIL.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> VICE PRESIDENT GORE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

TAKE CARE.

>>> SO, AS THE UNGA, IT IS ABOUT AS MUCH WHO ISN'T HERE AND WHO IS.

OF THE FIVE PERMANENT SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, CHINA, FRANCE, AND THE UK, ONLY PRESIDENT BIDEN IS THE LEADER ATTENDING.

THE CENTERPIECE OF HIS SPEECH WAS ABOUT STANDING WITH UKRAINE IN DEFENSE OF GLOBAL DEMOCRACY.

THE GROWING NORTH AND GLOBAL SOUTH DIVIDE.

AND CHINA'S EVOLVING COMPETITION FOR POWER AND ITS ROLE ON THE WORLD STAGE.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO CHINA, I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND CONSISTENT.

WE SEEK TO RESPONSIBLY MANAGE THE COMPETITION BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES, SO IT DOES NOT TIP INTO CONFLICT.

I'VE SAID WE ARE FOR DERISKING, NOT DECOUPLING WITH CHINA.

WE WILL PUSH BACK ON AGGRESSION AND INTIMIDATION AND DEFEND THE RULES OF THE ROAD, FROM FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION TO OVERFLIGHT TO LEVEL ECONOMIC PLAYING FIELD THAT HELP SAFEGUARD SECURITY AND PROSPERITY FOR DECADES.

BUT WE STAND READY TO WORK WITH CHINA ON ISSUES WHERE PROGRESS HINGES ON OUR COMMON EFFORTS.

>> NOW, SINGAPORE AND ITS SOUTHEAST ASIAN NEIGHBORS NAVIGATE A TRICKY MIDDLE GROUND IN A SENSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES.

DR. VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN IS THE FOREIGN MINISTER.

I WROTE THAT DOWN, TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

>> I WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

TELL ME ABOUT THIS THEN.

NEITHER XI JINPING OR THE PERMANENT FIVE MEMBERS WERE HERE EXCEPT FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU FEELING THE PRESSURE IN YOUR INDO-PACIFIC REGION AS THIS SORT OF TEMPO ESCALATES BETWEEN THE TWO POWERS.

>> SINGAPORE IS A TINY CITY STATE, MULTIRACIAL, MULTILINGUAL, IN THE HEART OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.

WE FEEL THIS TROUBLED WORLD IN A VERY REAL SENSE.

THE WAR IN EUROPE STILL GOING ON, THIS FOOD AND ENERGY INSECURITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION, THE PROMISE AND THE RISK OF A.I., ALL THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING, AND NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, WE NEED GLOBAL LEADERSHIP.

WE NEED -- THE PROBLEMS ARE BEYOND THAT OF JUST THE UNITED STATES OR CHINA OR EUROPE, IN FACT, IT NEEDS THE WHOLE WORLD TOGETHER.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE AT THE U.N. NOW IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT'S SHOWING IT IS CAPABLE OF WALKING AND CHEWING GUM, RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'VE GOT TO -- >> EVEN WITHOUT THE BIG LEADERS?

>> EVEN WITHOUT THE BIG LEADERS, BUT THEIR TEAMS ARE HERE, AND, LOOK, WE LIVE IN A DAY AND AGE, YOU CAN TRANSMIT MESSAGES LIVE.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU BELIEVE SOME OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND HOW THE RUSSIAN ILLEGAL WAR AGAINST UKRAINE IS KIND OF SUCKING THE OXYGEN OUT OF IMPORTANT ISSUES?

>> I THINK THAT WAS THE FEEL LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR, PARTICULARLY, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED THE LAST THREE DAYS, IT'S PART OF THE TEAM, IT'S NOT GONE AWAY.

IT'S A DIRECT FRONTAL ASSAULT FROM THE U.N. CHARTER.

A RISK TO SMALL CITY STATES LIKE US, I MEAN, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY IS SACRED.

BUT THERE ARE A LITANY OF OTHER PROBLEMS.

THE% THAT WE ARE BEHIND TIME IN ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT MEETING THE PARIS AGREEMENT, COMMITMENTS.

THE FACT THAT CLIMATE CHANGE, WITH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, ARE A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER -- >> AND FOR YOU PARTICULARLY, THEY SAY, I MEAN, YOU ARE ONE OF THE FASTEST HEATING URBAN -- YOU ARE A CITY STATE -- >> WE ARE A CITY STATE, AN ISLAND.

>> IT'S HOT.

>> ONE DEGREE NORTH OF THE EQUATOR.

WE COULDN'T STAND HERE AT MIDDAY INSINGAPORE WITHOUT BEING COMPLETELY DRENCHED.

>> TELL ME HOW YOU NAVIGATE WHAT I DESCRIBED AS A RATHER TRICKY BRIDGE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.

YOU KNOW IN THE INDO-PACIFIC.

>> FIRST POINT, WE'VE GOT GREAT RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A FORM.

THE UNITED STATES IS THE BIGGEST FOREIGN INVES OR THE IN SINGAPORE.

ALSO THE BIGGEST SERVICE TRADING PARTNER.

CHINA IS OUR BIGGEST TRADING PARTNER FOR GOODS.

WE'RE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTOR IN CHINA, AS WE ALSO HAVE INVESTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO, FOR US, THE BEST POSSIBLE WORLD IS ONE IN WHICH THE TWO BIG BOYS GET ALONG.

>> AND HOW WILL THEY GET ALONG?

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU AND I CAN WISH ON OR IMPOSE ON PRESIDENT BIDEN OR PRESIDENT XI, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THERE, INTERACTED WITH THEM, EITHER SIDE IS ACTUALLY SPOILING FOR A WAR.

BUT THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM IS A LACK OF STRATEGIC TRUST.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, BOTH SIDES HAVE TO ASSUME THE WORST OF EACH OTHER.

AND THEN, THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS, AND THEN THAT PRECAUTION IS VIEWED AS A POTENTIAL THREAT AND YOU TAKE A COUNTER PRECAUTION AND THE DANGERS SPIRAL.

OUR RECOMMENDATION IS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE DIRECT FACE-TO-FACE INTERACTION.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE, EYEBALL TO EYEBALL, HANDSHAKE TO HANDSHAKE AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS.

>> THIS IS APPARENTLY GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE IMPORTANT MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO.

>> I HOPE SO.

YES.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THAT?

>> THAT THEY MEET, THEY ENGAGE -- >> WHAT'S THE BEST THAT COULD HAPPEN OUT OF THERE?

>> THE BEGINNING OF A REAL STRATEGIC CONVERSATION.

IF YOU GO BACK, WELL, WE ARE BOTH OF A CERTAIN VINTAGE.

GO YOU BACK FOUR DECADES, YOU HAD THE SOVIET UNION, YOU HAD THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AS FAR AS NUCLEAR ARMS WERE CONCERNED, THEY WERE PURE POWERS.

THERE WAS STRATEGIC RESTRAINT, THERE WAS DETERRENCE.

YOU COULD HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ARMS LIMITATION.

>> YEAH.

>> TODAY, BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS STILL EVOLVING SO RAPIDLY, NEITHER SIDE HAS REALLY SIZED EACH OTHER UP AND SAID, LOOK, GUYS, WE BETTER PUT SOME GUARDRAILS, AND NOT GUARDRAILS IN A NEGATIVE, AGGRESSIVE SENSE, BUT GUARDRAILS AROUND BOTH OF US, SO WE DON'T LOSE THE PLOT.

NOW, THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF THEY MEET, INTERACT, GENERATE SOME STRATEGIC TRUST, AND THEN GET TO DO A FEW THINGS TOGETHER, AND THERE'S A LOT TO DO TOGETHER.

THE PANDEMIC, CLIMATE CHANGE, A.I., DO WE NEED REGULATIONS?

WHAT ABOUT THE SDGs, CAN THAT BE DONE WITHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA?

THE ANSWER IS NOW.

>> THE PRESIDENT IS UNDER VERY STRONG POLITICAL PRESSURE TO SOUND TOUGH ON CHINA.

SO, I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW SERIOUSLY DOES YOUR GOVERNMENT TAKE REPORTS THAT CHINA'S TRYING TO INFLUENCE ETHNIC CHINESE POPULATIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA, INCLUDING IN YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR CITY STATE?

FORMER PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY SAYS IF TOO MANY ARE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO SUBSCRIBE TO XI'S VERSION OF THE CHINA DREAM, THE MULTIRACIAL, SOCIAL KOHEI SHUN THAT'S THE FOUNDATION OF SINGAPORE'S SUCCESS WILL BE DESTROYED.

ONCE DESTROYED, IT CANNOT BE PUT TOGETHER AGAIN.

>> WELL, LET ME PUT IT TO YOU THIS WAY.

SINGAPORE IS A YOUNG CITY STATE.

MULTIRACIAL, MULTILINGUAL.

WE ARE NOT CHINESE, WE ARE NOT INDIANS, WE'RE NOT MALAYSIANS, WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT AMERICANS.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT THERE IS A VERY STRONG SENSE OF A SINGAPORE IDENTITY.

WE MAY SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, DIFFERENT COLORS, BUT IF YOU COME TO SINGAPORE, I HOPE YOU DO -- >> I'VE BEEN.

>> THERE IS A STRONG SENSE OF IDENTITY.

THE NEXT POINT IS, WE DON'T LOOK AT THE WORLD IN BINARY TERMS.

MEANING CULTURAL PRIDE, LINGUISTIC PROFICIENCY, BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND TO APPRECIATE OPPORTUNITIES, BOTH IN THE WEST AND EAST, IN INDIA, AND IN EUROPE, IS A STRATEGIC ED A VANTAGE FOR US, SO, THE FACT THAT WE UNDERSTAND, AND THEREFORE SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO INFLUENCE US, THAT'S BAKED INTO OUR CULTURAL -- >> SO, YOU DETECT IT AND DETERRING IT?

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS ON, BUT FUNDAMENTAL POINT IS THIS, I TRUST SINGAPOREANS, THAT WE PUT OUR IDENTITY, AND MOST IMPORTANT, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR LONG-TERM NATIONAL INTERESTS ARE.

AND IT'S NOT TO BE ANYBODY'S VESSEL STATE OR PROXY.

THE WAY WE NAVIGATE THIS NEXUS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA IS TO BE STRAIGHT WITH BOTH OF THEM.

WE TELL THEM, WE HAVE OUR OWN LONG-TERM NATIONAL INTERESTS, BOTH OF YOU ARE CRITICAL TO OUR LONG-TERM NATIONAL INTERESTS AND I DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF SAYING SWEET NOTHINGS IN BEIJING AND SWEET NOTHINGS IN WASHINGTON.

>> CAN I -- >> CLEAR, CONSTRUCTIVE, HONEST BROKER.

>> CAN I ASK YOU A HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTION?

>> YES.

>> AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS NOTED THE RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES LIKE DRUG-RELATED OFFENSES.

LAST YEAR, MAJOR CRITICISM AFTER THE EXECUTION OF A MALAYSIAN MAN WITH A VERY, VERY, VERY LOW IQ, ACCORDING TO HIS LAWYERS.

FIVE WOMEN, FIRST WOMAN IN 20 YEARS EXECUTED IN THE SUMMER.

WHY?

>> WE ARE EXTREMELY DRACONIAN FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING.

>> EVEN SOMEBODY WHO IS BARELY A 69 IQ?

>> IT GIVES ME NO JOY FOR EVERY CASE THAT IS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING, BUT HERE'S THE RUB OF IT.

EVEN IN THE UNITED STATES, THE DRUG PROBLEM IS REAL.

SECOND POINT, IF YOU LOOK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT'S WHERE THE STUFF IS GROWN, IT'S PROCESSED.

THIRD POINT, SINGAPORE IS A PLACE WHERE OUR TRADING VOLUME IS THREE TIMES OUR GDP.

CAN YOU IMAGINE, IF WE DID NOT TAKE A STRONG STAND ON DRUG TRAFFICKING, WE WOULD BE A NEXUS, THE PROCESS WHERE IT WOULD REACH EVEN YOUR SHORES.

SO, I TAKE NO JOY IN THIS, BUT I'M JUST MAKING THE POINT THAT WE TAKE A VERY, VERY HARSH POSITION.

>> I'M GLAD TO YOU HAVE ON THE RECORD ON THIS.

FOREIGN MINISTER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US.

>> YOU MUST COME TO SINGAPORE AGAIN.

>> WILL DO, THANK YOU.

>>> AND FINALLY, MORE THAN JUST A TENNIS MATCH.

50 YEARS AGO TODAY, BILLIE JEAN KING THRASHED A SELF-DESCRIBED MALE CHOOUF NIS PIG.

HE WAS BOBBY RIGGS, AND THAT WAS THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

SO, ON THIS 50th ANNIVERSARY, HERE'S BILLIE JEAN KING WITH A FEW REFLECTIONS.

BILLIE JEAN KING, WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU AND HEAR YOU, CHRISTIANE.

>> LISTEN TO ME, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.

THIS WEEK MARKS 50 YEARS SINCE YOU BEAT BOBBY RIGGS IN THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

TELL ME IF YOU REMEMBER, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER MOST, 50 YEARS AGO, ABOUT BOBBY RIGGS AND THAT MATCH?

>> I REMEMBER SHAKING HANDS AT THE NET AFTERWARDS AND HE SAID TO ME, I UNDERESTIMATED YOU.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT, BECAUSE MY DAD USED TO TELL MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER PLAYED BASEBALL, HE ALWAYS TOLD US TO RESPECT OUR OPPONENT AND NEVER, EVER UNDERESTIMATE THEM.

NEVER.

SO, I JUST COULDN'T WAIT TO TELL MY DAD.

DADDY, DADDY, HE SAID HE UNDERESTIMATED ME, JUST EXACTLY WHAT YOU TELL RANDY AND ME TO NEVER, EVER DO AND ALWAYS RESPECT YOUR 0 POENLT, EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THINK WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD YOU LOST.

WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE IMPACT?

>> I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HUGE.

WE HAD TITLE IX PASS THE YEAR BEFORE, THE EDUCATIONAL AMONDAYMENT, WHICH WOULD HAVE GOTTEN WEAKENED.

SO MANY THINGS WE HAD NOT ACCOMPLISHED.

A WOMAN COULD NOT GET A CREDIT CARD ON HER OWN.

I THOUGHT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IF WE LOST, BUT I THOUGHT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE COULD DO IF WE WON, AND I KNEW THAT WE'D HAVE A MUCH BIGGER IMPACT, WHICH WE DID.

I MEAN, I STILL HAVE PEOPLE COMING UP TO ME, AND THE ONE -- THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I THINK I'VE HEARD OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS IS THE IMPACT IT HAD ON WOMEN, AND THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND FOR THE MEN, FOR THE FIRST TIME, MANY OF THE MEN THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTERS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY SAID, I DO WANT MY DAUGHTER TO HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY WITH MY SON.

AND I THINK IT REALLY STARTED TO CHANGE THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE.

>> SO, BILLIE JEAN, THAT MEANS I HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION, I'M ASKING A LOT OF LEADERS ABOUT AGE, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A SECRET THAT IN TWO MONTHS OR SO, YOU WILL BE 80 YEARS OLD.

HONESTLY, YOU LOOK LIKE, NOT A DAY OVER 50, AND YOU ACT LIKE AN ENERGIZER BUNNY.

SO, GIVEN ALL THIS TALK ABOUT AGE AROUND PRESIDENT BIDEN, GIVEN THE ROMNEY REASON, AS I LIKE TO SAY, FOR STEPPING DOWN AND NOT CONTESTING ANOTHER SENATE RACE IN ORDER TO GIVE THE GROUND TO THE NEXT GENERATION, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON AGE AND LEADERSHIP?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON.

WHAT KIND OF HEALTH THEY'RE IN, AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, BUT PRESIDENT BIDEN, IF HE FEELS GOOD, HE'S HAD SO MUCH EXPERIENCE, I THINK AGEISM IS REALLY A PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY, AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY JUDGE EACH HUMAN BEING WHERE THEY'RE AT.

NOT BY THEIR AGE.

>> SO, HOW ABOUT YOU?

YOU JUST DON'T SEEM TO SLOW DOWN.

>> WELL, YOU GET SLOWER, BUT THE MAIN THING IS, STAY ACTIVE, BE SOCIAL, DO WHAT YOU LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING, JUST STAY ACTIVE.

GO TO WORK, AND HAVE FUN.

BUT I FEEL GREAT.

I -- THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO SLOW DOWN RIGHT NOW.

>> AT THE U.S. OPEN, COCO GAUFF, THE NEW WOMEN'S CHAMPION, A TEENAGER, THANKED YOU FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE EQUAL PAY AND FOR ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU HAVE DONE.

DO YOU SEE A NEW GENERATION OF AMERICAN WOMEN AND MEN EMERGING?

FOR A LONG TIME, IT WAS EASTERN EUROPEANS AND OTHERS.

>> YES, I THINK THE AMERICANS, WE HAD A GREAT U.S. OPEN, AND OKAY, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR COCO TO WIN BIG, AND SHE WON REALLY BIG.

AND SHE IS SO ELOQUENT, SHE'S SUCH A GREAT ATHLETE, SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING, WE'VE KNOWN THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

I LISTENED TO HER AT 16 YEARS OF AGE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND I WENT -- SHE'S THE ONE, BECAUSE SHE CAN DO SO MUCH ON THE COURT, BUT WHAT SHE CAN DO OFF THE COURT, AS WELL, IS GOING TO BE SENSATIONAL.

AND SHE'S GOT A GOOD FAMILY, AND HER GRANDMOTHER IS THE FIRST BLACK CHILD THAT WENT TO A WHITE SCHOOL IN FLORIDA, AND SO, SHE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE AS AN EXAMPLE TO HER GRANDCHILD, COCO.

>> ALL THAT HISTORY.

BILLIE JEAN KING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, THANKS A LOT.

REALLY GREAT TALKING WITH YOU.

>> AND BILLIE JEAN KING IS DEFINITELY NOT SLOWING DOWN.

SHE HAS JUST ESTABLISHED A WOMAN'S PROFESSIONAL ICE HOCKEY LEAGUE IN NORTH AMERICA.

DRAFTING THE FIRST PLAYERS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

AND THAT IS IT FOR OUR PROGRAM ON THAT NOTE TONIGHT.

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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD-BYE FROM NEW YORK.