The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim

Ken Burns is one of America's most successful documentary filmmakers.
Ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence later this year, he sits down with Yalda in this extra episode to reflect on where the US has come from, as well as the current state of the nation.
Burns has been making films for more than 40 years, winning Emmys and Grammys, and has even had a film effect named after him - 'the Ken Burns'.
His most recent project is a six-part series on the American Revolution that took Burns and his team at PBS 10 years to make.
He also talks to Yalda about why he chose this project, the process of making it and why he fears for the current state of America under President Trump.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at [email protected]

What is Gaza like four months on from the ceasefire? Are Hamas still operating? Why won’t Israeli troops withdraw completely? And what about the Palestinians who have been forced to leave their homes?
Richard has been taken into Gaza by the IDF, which is still the only way that international journalists are allowed into the Strip. He is shown a Hamas tunnel which the IDF says was used until recently.
He also paints Yalda a picture of the complete destruction that he saw.
The two also reflect on the war in Ukraine, four years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Yalda’s interview with the iconic American filmmaker, Ken Burns, will be available on Thursday 26th February.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at [email protected]

Why did the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei just threaten to sink US warships? Is the progress made in the talks between America and Iran meaningful? What could happen next?
US President Donald Trump has sent more military equipment towards Iran and has said regime change is the “best thing that could happen”. At the same time, Iranian officials have said that some progress has been made in indirect talks with America. So, what’s really going on?
Richard and Yalda have both been talking to their contacts in the region and bring each other up to speed with what they are hearing.
Yalda also spent the weekend at the Munich Security Conference and gives her view on the last Shah of Iran’s son, Reza Pahlavi, who was also there.
Richard also talks about the Savannah Guthrie case. Savannah is a good friend and colleague of Richard, and the two have worked closely together for years.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at [email protected]

What is next for Iran? Did MI6 know about Peter Mandelson’s past with Epstein? How does Europe bring Putin to the negotiating table?

When he left his job in 2025, the former head of MI6 said that he didn't think he’d left the world in a better place than when he was first appointed in 2020. But a lot has happened since he took the position, Sir Richard Moore has served two monarchs, four prime ministers, five deputy prime ministers and six foreign secretaries. He was also in charge of the security service when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, when Trump returned to the White House, and during the upheaval in the Middle East with the war in Gaza.

In this episode of The World podcast, Yalda Hakim asks him about the vetting of Peter Mandelson, how the war in Ukraine might end, and the new world order including China and the US.

To watch the episode on The World YouTube channel click here.

What is the mood in Iran’s capital? Are people still protesting in the streets? What is the regime saying about what happened?
Richard Engel is in Tehran for NBC News and tells Yalda what he is seeing and what officials are telling him.
Because of the internet issues in Iran, Richard’s connection dropped off halfway through. Yalda then speaks about her exclusive interview with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino. When asked whether FIFA should lift its ban on Russia, he said it had "not achieved anything". He also explains why he stands by his decision to give President Trump the FIFA Peace Prize.
You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.
To watch Yalda’s full interview with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, click here.
Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at [email protected]