♪ Christiane hello everyone and welcome to MN poor and company here is what's coming up.

-- "Amanpour and Company" is -- I asked Sidney McCain how she is helping the unprecedented number of people facing starvation.

Also ahead, a coronation fit for a king, but is the monarchy still a good fit for modern-day Britain.

And with the American perspective, market lamb blur is here to discuss peer get plus, Michelle Martin talks to Tony Hassan back about the proposed a law to protect women who killed their abusers.

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Christiane: Welcome to the program everyone I'm Christiane Amanpour in London.

In Sudanfor -- in Sudan, no Cease Fire.

It could expand into an all-out war that could impact the region for years to come.

After four weeks it is having a deficit aiding effect on the kind -- a devastating effect on the country.

And those left behind or forced left into a few G camps are in dire need of medicine, shelter and of course food.

The U.N. world Food program is urgently working to get Sudanese people fed but it is dangerous work.

Three staff members have been killed in the fighting causing a temporary suspension or get Sidney McCain, the former ambassador and widow of John McCain, she is one month on the job and the challenges go way beyond Sudan.

The people facing acute food and security worldwide has more than doubled since 2019.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional or conflict and of course climate change.

Sidney McCain joins me now from Nairobi Kenya, welcome to our program.

Can you who are dedicated to feeding people in these emergencies do it?

Sidney: as you know, there is food insecurity around the globe, at this point we do not have enough money we need more money.

With that said in a place like Sudan, we want everyone to know that we never left Sudan even though it became -- obviously he lost three people.

We've had very dicey situations.

We are working in the East now, and in those places we are relatively safe.

I want you to know that WP never left.

This is what we do and this is how we do it.

Those of all, if I could say anything I am so proud of the WP people who are working on the ground in Sudan, it is tense place right now.

Christiane: The Secretary-General is there, you must be attending these meetings, what are you trying to hammer out, now?

Sidney: we have called for and enacted a complete ability for all of our human agencies to -- you and agencies to get in and work.

We are trying to hammer out funding, security issues, and where to go with this, and most of all trying to make sure that all of us are on the same page with regards to what's going on and how to proceed.

>> It is disturbing to hear that a major U.N. agency is short of funds in these kinds of emergencies but also, we here today, that the insecurity in Sudan has led not only to the killing of some of your staffers but to the looting of your food.

If I'm not mistaken, something like $14 million, $14 million worth of food is taken from the trucks.

Is this desperate, hungry people or warlords trying to sell it off.

Sidney: I think it's a combination of things, they have not only looted our food but some of our trucks are gone.

They have completely gone into our housing and destroyed that.

It is an all out to Wilding as far as I am concerned in Sudan.

The important thing to can -- at the important thing to remember is, that the human agencies are trying to figure out how we can get into more places and try to provide food to those who are most vulnerable and left behind because of this.

The entities usually women -- and it is usually women and children.

Christiane: There are so many, tens of thousands possibly hundreds of thousands of people, the human agencies warns that nearly 800 thousand people may flee to neighboring countries.

We can see boatloads of people being taken to Saudi Arabia.

How much does this complicate, because that could grow worse, the refugee part of this with the comic crisis.

Sidney: right.

The refugee issue is very serious.

We take our job providing services for them very seriously.

The whole thing is just -- it is not only outrageous, but it is very dicey.

I met with some folks that got through our double UMP folks that got through, and they are in a row be now.

The horror stories that they told me it is unconscionable.

-- they are in a row be now.

-- in Nairobi now.

The horror stories are unconscionable.

Christiane: Give me an idea, one horse story come what do you mean exactly?

Sidney: their homes were looted.

One person had a child with them, saw what was going on and hasn't spoken in a week.

It's those kinds of things, trauma and tragedy.

WP is providing counseling for those people as we should.

And always do.

Christiane: These are your staffers.

In India, ETA has been diverted and sold, as we were discussing.

This is difficult, whether in Sudan or Ethiopia, to provide food if you are in situations where you don't know if it's going to the right people not to mention the danger.

Sidney: rights, WP immediately launched a investigation with regards to the food diversion.

And more importantly, remembering that we condemn anything like that, and personally I am outraged from a WP standpoint we will not tolerate this.

We will find out exactly what happened but in the meantime, but this means is that people who would normally be distributed aid to will not get it.

More people, usually the most vulnerable are being pushed aside.

Christiane: I think there's a train or a helicopter going past, but we heard you.

Sidney: a helicopter.

Christiane: You've just returned from Somalia, Sidney McCain, and we know that small yet could fall into famine very quickly.

It's very fragile.

We are hearing that 6.5 million people are facing acute food problems.

It is the driest conditions and some 14 years, and dry seasons.

The last time there was a famine, and 2011, 40 million people died from it.

It is hard to hear the stories but what confronted you anywhere there?

-- when you were there?

Sidney: in many ways, it's the worst of the worst because of the situation you described.

135 people a day could die of starvation in Somalia unless we have assistance in there.

We need another $500 million in the next six months to keep Somalia floating.

It is on the brink of famine and we are trying to stave that off.

I don't want people to forget small yet because of other countries that are having trouble like Sudan, Ethiopia and others.

Somalia is in aspirate straits, and everything that we talked about, -- is in desperate straits.

I saw firsthand in a place called doll low, 80% of our work has been cash based assistance.

Which is useful because people can buy for the local market, but that is not happening now because of what's going on.

Christiane: Climate change has been hugely politicized and governments have not taken it seriously to mitigate these things for too long.

Your late husband was someone who worked across the lot -- across the aisle, he cared about the world and was trying to intervene in a positive way around the world.

In humanitarian or other situations.

Do you see, clearly, all of this fundraising also -- it is essential that the American public and politicians that Congress work together to help you raise funds as well as other parts of the world.

Do you see more bipartisanship in the Biden era?

What to think you and your husband would think of the state of affairs right now, particularly when it comes to looking after people around the world and trying to make people care about them.

Sidney: we make a compelling case to any of our donors and we went to make sure that they understand the dire straits and the U.S. is no different from that.

Part of my job is to do just that make sure that we make the case and make sure that people understand why this is important, and why we should continue to do it and even give more.

I know that there is fenestration -- there is frustration, and there is donor fatigue right now, and there has been food insecurity.

I know that this year we will not have the same amount.

We are learning how to work at her with less and make sure that we can use science and technology to help us out, do things in a better way.

And those are the kinds of things that I want to make sure that Congress and other countries understand just what we are doing to help mitigate the use of our money in some ways, and make sure that we do more with less.

Christiane: Afghanistan is a real crisis for the U.S. and other state agencies that are threatening to perhaps have to pull out if they do not pull back their prohibition of women working not only in the workforce but specifically for NGOs in new -- in United Nations.

There is a looming famine there.

Are you on the break of having to make a decision in Afghanistan?

Sidney: right now, no.

We have no intention of stopping our support and we are delivering aid where possible in the country.

As long as we can stay on the ground in a safe manner, and deliver assistance we well.

Christiane: You have been working in the food space for some time because you served as U.S. ambassador to the U.S. food and after -- U.N. Food and agriculture program.

President Biden nominate you did you -- nominated you to the physician.

You crossed an aisle and voted for President Biden.

Do you support his reelection?

Sidney: I work for the U.N. now, so I do not get involved in politics anymore.

I know it sounds strange coming from me but I worked for the U.N. and the world Food program trying to bring people together and hopefully initiate peace through the use of food.

Christiane: Sidney McCain, their -- thank you very much, indeed, for joining us.

For the next few days written will be glued to the palm -- pomp and pageantry as the world prepares for King Charles the third's coronation.

Many think it is tone deaf given the poverty and hunger that many people are facing as we just discussed.

Those criticisms come up every time there is a royal event and yet they continue.

Just ahead, we will discuss his moment in time as well as British Royal history with our experts.

But first, our royal correspondent, Max Foster will show us what to expect from Saturday's coronation.

The first in seven decades here in the U.K.. ♪ >> Not since 1953 have we had a glimpse of this sacred moment.

The crowning of a monarch, Queen Elizabeth then just 27, thrust to the throne after her father's untimely death.

Her coronation designed to introduce the young queen to the world and give the morale boost to postwar Britain.

70 years on and amidst the cost of living crisis, King Charles will have many of the same traditions Inc. although slightly toned down.

Up to 8200 guests -- >> The king has ruffled some feathers by not inviting members of ancient royalty.

He invited members of the community, charitable workers for example.

>> A sign, perhaps that Charles wins to make the monarchy more accessible.

Much of the pomp and ceremony will remain.

He will sit on the coronation chair used by monarchs for more than 700 years.

And he will be crowned with the Saint endboards crown, a gold velvet jewel encrusted piece weighing more than two kilograms.

The coronation is a religious ceremony it culminates with the Kings anointing and holy oil which has been consecrated in Jerusalem.

>> It symbolizes the king's commitment to God, he is a holy man himself and he is the head of the church.

>> His wife, Camilla will also be anointed and crowned.

William and Harry will be there although Harry's wife Megan will remain at home in California but her two young children.

It remains to be seen what role Harry will play in proceedings now that he's stepped back from his senior bowl duties.

For many in Britain the coronation is about more than a public holiday, though be street parties up-and-down the U.K. and thousands will come to Buckingham palace to witness the famous balcony moment in to see for the first time the newly crowned king and queen.

Many more Bill lined the streets for the coronation procession just as they -- many more will line the streets for the coronation procession just as they did many years ago.

The king and queen will travel in this carriage with a huge military procession.

Nighttime rehearsals in the streets of London as the Capitol gears up for a moment in history.

Christiane: 70 years after Queen Elizabeth's coronation was broadcast to the world and seven months after her death, how does the nation feel about the new king and the future of the monarchy itself.

Joining me in the studio are the historian and author of the upcoming book for and bodies Mark landlord.

What -- welcome to the program.

Simon, one of the historic things about Queen Elizabeth's coronation was that it was broadcast around the world.

It wasn't just a technical thing, it was a giant achievement.

But what does it do to endear or attract people to the moniker -- to the monarchy?

>> It was a lot to do with what the world had gone through just a few years before.

The experience of the war was very raw.

I remember as a kid watching it, I was a small boy who walked with my dad through blitzed out ruins in this city of East End.

There was a sense in the coronation, even though -- first of all the youth of the Queen meant looking forward it might be tricky in this iteration of it, but it might be something else.

It was also a sense of the nation that survived a community of memory and democracy had survived the worst that fascism and Nazi-ism could throw at it.

Though you went from many people talking about the war, the implication was that we are still part of a recognizable, million extended family that had got through this ordeal.

We thought ourselves as new Elizabethans.

Christiane: This was also dramatic for the United States, it was Don Hewitt one of the great modern American television pioneers who helped produce that for America and I remember hearing his stories, how big of the United date -- the United States?

>> It was the moment that the royal family became a pop cultural phenomenon in the United States one that has only grown in the ensuing years.

Another great milestone in the family's history was the making of the BBC documentary about life inside the palace.

That took the personal stories, and in some sense of the soap operatic quality of the family, and made it not just a British phenomenon but very much in American and global phenomenon.

Christiane: I want to ask both of you about the interest level because I know you've written about it and there are poles to suggest that there is a certain amount of apathy about this.

And yet, they watch the crown.

People are engaged, aren't they?

in America go be engaged?

>> I think the reigning's -- the ratings for this will be higher than we assume.

If it is sunshine or rain will impact the crowds in the street which will impact the atmospherics of the event that I think it is true to say that for years, pollsters have been asking people about the royal family and finding declining interest in growing apathy particularly from younger people and some of the latest poll numbers are daunting if you are a royalist.

But none of that suggests that the fundamental consensus that the royal family and the monarchy is worthwhile has gone away in this country.

And the interest in it certainly hasn't overseas.

Christiane: Much more than half the country still believes in the monarchy.

Do you sense that -- it was so amazing in 1953, do you sense a different anticipation this time?

>> When a country is struggling with everything that we have gone through with the pandemic and inflation and so on, people feel out of control, you can take two views, one view is that everything is political really.

That there is something about the menarche -- about the monarchy that is inegalitarian.

And like the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries and so on, in the digital A's people are crying out for a space to relate to each other which is not political or partisan where they can enjoy a memory and history, and Charles has one enormous thing going for him, everyone says.

He spends all of his adult life, virtually, prophesying trouble with the environment that turns out to be one of our existential crisis.

The issue with the monarchy will now turn to providing a space, where people can turn.

This is one time and place where we are happy to be British.

And also where they can see him as actually being a truly public service monarch.

Having a civic conscience.

I don't think anyone will mind that, especially when they consider the alternatives.

Christiane: I was going to get into the pageantry and the history, but you've led me into something important.

Charles, the oldest inheritor and the one that's waited the longest, a long time.

That hasn't happened before.

It is a ceremony that goes back at least 1000 years and you mentioned a lot of European monarchs.

But the British to completely differently.

Prince Charles has spent his lifetime, his entire apprenticeship being on the right sides of many of the big debates of our time, religious, ethnic or the climate.

Let's talk about that a little bit.

Because I think that people may want to see their monarch actually do something rather than be a figurehead.

So, both of you, I want to ask you this apparently, Liz Truss when she was prime minister essentially walked into Buckingham palace and informed the king that it would not be going to Coppin Egypt -- Cop in Egypt.

Do you think he will be able to weigh in on some way that is not political on such huge issues that are political such as political -- such as climate.

>> The monarchy should rise above party politics and be able to weigh in on.

I think in that case you had a new prime minister with a very strong ideological view, we saw the results of many of those views played out badly for her and other areas, may be pushing too hard in one direction, there is a issue with a apolitical king in a monarchy, Charles got into more trouble recently when he hosted Ursula bonder line at Windsor counsel, after she had signed a trade deal in northern Ireland and many people thought that was an inappropriate use of the king.

It appeared to put the king's imprimatur on a political agreement.

And that's not what he should play.

Charles, given his proclivities and passions and how much he cares about these issues, will have to wrestle over time with what the right balances.

I think it would be a great shame if his voice was silenced forever.

On the other hand, he cannot probably play in some of these debates as he did as heir to the throne.

>> He said he knows it's different now but it's ultimately up to government not to him, I think whichever government wins the election next year, they would be extremely ill-advised not to give him a bit more public space .

Think of some of the greatest moments, it was her going to Ireland.

Christiane: Drinking a Guinness.

The former IRA.

>> Finding out that it is not such a bad thing is tiny compared to -- speaking in Gaelic at the banquet.

The Queen went to the site of a massacre and bowed her head.

If you are witnesses to labor, and you want a stable monarchy that will bring the country together without it being bitterly polarized as so much of office is, you would be well advised to give the king a little more space and voice.

That being said, you never quite know what is going to happen with him.

But let him be, Charles the third, for God sake.

Christiane: I'm going to play a interview from his sister, Princess and, and she was asked about the royal family in the coronation but this is what she said about Charles.

>> In know what you are getting because he has been practicing for a bit.

I don't think he will change.

He has committed to his own level of service, and that is -- that will remain true.

>> That idea of service is we know what we are getting and everyone knows what they are getting, does the idea of service will ring true?

the Queen, duty first, that was her mantra.

She didn't talk or give interviews.

Charles has talked and given interviews and given speeches that hover on daily issues.

The service is important stuff in this country.

>> Incredibly.

It goes back such a long way into Victorian traditions of charity and Prince Albert and so on.

I think it is very deeply important.

And it is a service which seems to be not pocket lining self-interest.

No matter what the royal budget is or taxpayers and so on, the ascension -- the essential deal for this modern marquee is that you do something that is not to do with your own ego trip, or not to do with power, the power of the honor key is its power of slips nests -- the key to the monarchy is its powerlessness.

For many years it has been absolutely exemplary and passionate and genuine, but if you want and offend tick -- and authentic king, you have to let him do what he likes doing.

Christiane: You also have this Princess trust which all those involved in it and helped me manage it, has said he has specifically held young black men in this country, who are historically underserved and their rights are not recognized, and it has had a huge impact.

This also resonates in this moment of Black Lives Matter and the United State.

He has also said that he is open, according to the Guardian, to some sort of investigation that might probe the monarchy's relationship to slavery.

>> That would be interesting to watch play out, because another one of the inevitable challenges he will face is a more restive Commonwealth in the realm of former colonies that will maybe use this moment to move away, the Jamaicans are already on that track and others may follow .

I think that his willingness to confront that issue in a forthright way may help.

It may help in that regard.

One thing to say about his charities as well, and this notion of a lot about Charles, he is passionately committed to these things and it has occasionally led him astray with the charities there is obviously these reports that he has taken reports from somewhat uncertain very -- somewhat unsavory characters.

In the service -- I think I remember eight figure like 700,000 young people have been help over the history of the princes trust.

He must be one of the most prolific and -- philanthropist in the Western world.

>> He is one of the richest people in the Western world.

It was reported up on the Queen's funeral when everyone was focused on this.

The Empire, in the Queens day, you mentioned that she vowed her head.

The idea of Empire is so clearly not what it was.

Even the Commonwealth, back then.

It's more of a shame now than it was a sense of pride back then.

And he, the king is dealing with -- she needs to recognize a lot of diverse religions there's going to be different groups giving blessings in this coronation which has never happened before.

He has talked about being the defender of the fates.

>> I think that the Queen was very good in trying to -- and succeeding in converting the loss of Empire into a Commonwealth.

This is why think that Charles is not truly distressed by countries like Jamaica being a Republic.

He's still thinks they could be a cultural pond.

But the Commonwealth is actually increasing in size.

Countries that left the Commonwealth have reapplied.

Countries like -- that -- the opportunity is to turn it into and not to say that it will be realized.

Whether were talking about serious teases or environmental -- serious diseases or environmental catastrophe, all of those asked -- existential things it is possible to make the Commonwealth a place of structural achievement if you really poke your elbow into it, which, the critical thing is he has to be well advised.

He said the only popular thing to do would be to have already been fired.

Anyone that thought a quiche was a good idea for coronation, was -- Christiane: It's called a quiche coronation.

There is a dish -- >> Spinach enteric and do not go together and there is an issue with beans.

Christiane: Coronation chicken?

>> I'm available to fire people on the behalf.

Christiane: People need to understand that a dish needs to be made a signature dish, and it's quiche.

>> Is vegetarian.

>> On the homage thing.

>> Its allegiance, which you do every day at school, pledging allegiance.

>> Only since 1952.

But only done by members of the hereditary aristocracy and the idea was to democratize this to have millions of people swear allegiance which struck an absolute awful ear.

Christiane: Is Charles well chested -- a well tested well-intentioned person, or is Charles the snappy Charles who didn't like the idea that the pen was leaking on him after his mother's death.

>> Both, but nobody's perfect.

Christiane: Talking about that nobody's perfect, there will be the crowned heads of Europe and elsewhere, but there will be others, I think most people believe the wonderful First Lady of Ukraine will be here, but so will, apparently the mere or vice president of China, who has a dire record in terms of what's happened in Hong Kong and elsewhere with crushing democracies etc.

What she we make of that, he is supposed to be in talks with the Foreign Secretary.

It's important time, China should be in talks.

>> There is the idea that she should paying -- that President Xi could have sent many people, or the people who are a crackdown on the British colony.

Some people view it as a hostile gesture.

There is a similar argument about whether Joe Biden's decision to skip the coronation should be interpreted as a snub.

Never mind that no president has been.

>> He sent the first lady.

>> I think that Dwight Eisenhower didn't come, and he was in a fast a few weeks ago and he's probably coming on estate visit in a few months which assumes that King has invited him.

I don't think that the government is to exercised about this.

I think this is more an effect of the press who are reading into this.

We do have an enthusiastic Irish-American as our president, and that was on display, that also probably feeds into a narrative that I don't think really helps.

Christiane: The biggest party that won the elections in northern Ireland and the leader is coming.

She said I am a run -- I am an Irish republican, and I know there are many people who feel that it is an important occasion.

That's a big departure from the past.

>> It is.

It's a moving gesture, really.

It has to be celebrated.

As I said, any opportunity, really for there to be some sort of connection, which takes the poison out of this mutually exterminating -- which social media has made more toxic.

It got to be a good thing.

I saw a president last night say -- there you have somebody who has absolutely no power, but enormous moral authority and had to use it and has done so successfully.

He's made a huge difference.

And, I think there are two mistakes.

When the monarchy is talked about, one is that it is totally redundant and not necessary and ridiculous Accenture city.

But in our modern, techno driven, manic, feverish world we do not need a little bit of ceremony and mystery and magic.

I think that's a mistake about human psychology.

Christiane: I'm sure you two will have a prominent perch I will cover it tomorrow.

>> I'm going to be in a field in Ealing in the rain, watching it, how British is that?

>> I wish I could match the color.

I'm probably going to be sitting in front of the bank of television screens.

Christiane: Now to the United States and the State of Oklahoma where new legislation is being worked out for women who kill their abusers in self-defense.

There are currently hundreds of women in jail on murder charges because their history of trauma and abuse was not taken into account when the were sentenced.

Tony Housel Beck tells Michelle Martin how she hopes to change that.

>> Thank you, thank you for talking with us.

>> Thank you for having me.

>> In February 2 introduced Oklahomans to mess to could be a.

That would help the mystic violence survivors who fought back against the person abusing them.

Why does Oklahoma need this, in your opinion?

>> Oklahoma is the second-highest place for a woman to be killed by a man in the United States of America.

And as you've probably covered, some of our gun laws, some of the things we do in the legislature.

There isn't a dad alive who thinks it would be OK for his daughter not to fight back in her own home against anyone.

>> As I understand, 38% of men have said that they experienced intimate partner physical violence.

Let me just asked, why do you think that is?

>> I think it's one of those realities of years of a lack of knowledge and a lack of recognition of mental health problems.

>> I feel like sadly mental challenges exist around the world but not everyplace seems to have the same problem that you are experiencing in Oklahoma .

When something stands out is such an outlier, you have to ask yourself what's going on.

>> I think to mystic violence is one of those realities that crosses every socioeconomic boundary that we have.

And so we are second in the nation, I'm sure whoever's 14th or first or 50th, they feel there is too much to mystic violence going on in their state.

So sometimes when you are in the middle of America we are slower to look at these issues and take them up on different coasts.

>> How did you get started on this project to begin with?

Christiane: Ice -- >> I became interested in this project when I found the strength of your partner was not a violent crime.

That blew my mind.

And so I started to requesting different statutes to look at, and understand more about what's going on.

For five years I've been on the edges trying to understand what current statute says and what types of things are going on.

It's just one of those things that I have been thinking about for a long time.

Christiane: What would your bill do, what specifically would it do and what hole in the law would it fill?

>> Basically in Oklahoma, domestic violence or the surviving domestic violence is not really looked at before sentencing occurs.

And so a person who has to fight back against their domestic partner inside their home gets all the way through the sentencing stage and then at that point, they receive a exorbitant sentence.

And then typically women get a more exorbitant sentence then men, and we are going to allow for that to be declared at the beginning.

Christiane: When I first learned about your bill I was taken aback because it's known and understood that some states have strong stand laws.

Those are controversial, not everyone feed -- fits them.

But it is policy in Oklahoma.

Why is it standing around is a case in other cases but it's not for someone defending themselves in an intimate partner situation.

Why is that?

>> My first term in the Oak Loma legislator was five years ago and we were on the House floor and it was late at night and a Democrat brought up the bill that made it so in the state of Oklahoma that if you strangled your domestic partner that would be considered a violent crime.

Up until then, strangling your domestic partner was not a violent crime.

And typically when you don't go back and codify some of these crimes, then law enforcement looks at them is just this is how it's been and we are not going to get involved.

We have a lot of work to do.

When you strangle your wife within an inch of her life, or your husband or any other domestic partner, and you don't get in trouble for it you're going to do it again to get your way.

We change strangulation, and this is really just designed to stop some of these exorbitant sentences because he domestic violence survivor had a very good reason, typically the women that are incarcerated for committing these crimes inside their home, this is the own the crime they've ever been convicted of.

They been law-abiding citizens that had to fight for themselves or children.

Christiane: You commissioned a study on this last fall in which you heard from survivors who would be protected by this legislation and part of your study said that 60% of incarcerated women in Oklahoma bro in abusive relationships of the time of their rest.

And you also said that Oklahoma incarcerates women at rates far above the rest of the country.

Again, I'm sort of puzzled by this, when you started this issue and you started talking about what did your colleagues say did they say it's too bad or -- how did they respond?

>> My colleagues responded with being a cosponsor on the bill and adding advantage.

That's how my colleagues have responded to it, we've looked at the system a bit.

Before I published this language, they didn't want have look backs on this case.

I had attorneys look at this link which.

The prevailing thought if you are a -- if you are surviving inside your home every day and you finally got to a position where you could equalize yourself against her abuser, and you did, that deserves a look back.

We have work to do to change the hearts and minds of our 47 strict attorneys across the state that do not feel that we need to look back on these issues.

>> You are saying that your colleagues in the political realm, and just like your constituents, they are saying that the district attorneys have been opposing it.

Is it because they do not want the lot to be retroactive.

Is that the issue, they do not want to go -- >> It will require some of these cases to be looked at with a fresh set of eyes.

And we will have to say, well, domestic violence is a compelling reason to fight for your life.

Christiane: Why do they think it is not appropriate?

To take a look back, if it's -- if in injustice was done is it because they think it will degrade.

But arguments have they given?

>> Oh Michelle, I've had a lot of arguments.

One is the workload.

One is, women lie.

I've had that told me.

And I've been approached with, women stay, women go back.

I've had some people who say, we don't want to make the law so that one of these manipulative abusers can use it for themselves.

This is a men versus women issue in a lot of cases.

My argument is that men have been new mutilating the law in this country for a long time -- have been manipulating the lawn this country for a long time.

If we can help anyone suffering from the situation I think we do.

>> Was there anything -- a woman name Apryl Wilkins it is disturbing -- >> It is disturbing.

April is a beautiful, smart, well educated woman.

Who found herself in a position where she was being controlled, and raped and beaten, she got to the point she had enough and fought back.

She saved her life.

I listen to some podcasts and I read her story and I realized, wow, this could happen to anyone because she was beautiful, and by all measures seemed intelligent and affluent.

She just celebrated her 53rd birthday.

>> I'm going to let people know it's uncomfortable to hear.

My understanding is that she was dragged to the basement, handcuffed and physically assaulted.

That she was able to get her abusers a firearm away from him and killed him.

But even though she was handcuffed at the time, she was will given a life sentence for this which he continues to serve.

I understand there's another case, a woman who was pregnant, by a man who had abused her previously.

She did everything she has been advised to do.

She moved away, changed her phone number and make sure she blocked him on social media.

At some point she -- he tracked her down.

He assaulted her while she was pregnant.

She was able to get the knife away from an and to defend herself.

She was also given a life sentence.

I am wondering why it is that -- is it the way that stand your ground is interpreted is only interpreted when the individual is a stranger?

I don't understand that there is a duty to retreat in Oklahoma.

Is that right?

So -- here is where I need to ask you bluntly.

Is this because the forces that created these laws just don't believe women?

>> I think that was the case for a long time in the state of Oklahoma and 20 years ago we had a female legislator who put in place to Messick violence laws.

We do have some, we need to -- domestic violence laws.

We have some and we need to make them available for those in vulnerable situations.

And you asked me why is Oklahoma number two in these areas, it's because our statute is not caught up to what's been going on.

And sometimes that takes time.

It took New York State five years to get this legislation passed.

I grew about on a farm in Oklahoma and our citizenry believes in capital punishment.

The majority of our people believe if you harm woman or child, in any way it does matter who you are or what you look like, you probably need to be punished by death for that.

One of the reasons I got published in this bill, was there was a man in Texas whose child was raped by a man that lived down the road.

This man went down the road and pulled this man out of his house and killed them in the front yard.

In Oklahoma there are a lot of people who believe that is 100% justified.

There is a case in Oklahoma of a woman who shot her rapist and she is sitting in jail.

We person -- we pretend that it is for everyone, but I'm fighting for a 97 pounds woman who's trying to fight against the 220, man who she has no chance of equalizing.

I'm trying to make it better for that situation and they think if we do that we will make it better for a lot of people in other situations.

It's frustrating that we have all of these other laws that we are still not protected in our own homes.

If you're a woman and fighting with your to Messick partner.

>> Is the -- your domestic partner.

>> Is the issue that women do not have the right to defend themselves?

>> Not a single person has said to me that people do not -- women do not have the right to defend themselves.

So many people have been for the idea.

But those who are not for it, the argument goes back to, they will never say that the woman doesn't have the right.

But these husband and wife situations are very icky.

And we don't know what's going on in those situations.

>> There are those the issue -- that argued the issue is guns.

There are some any guns in this country easy to get and easy for people to use when they are angry.

While this bill is laudable in addressing a long-standing problem of inequity, it doesn't do anything to keep people alive .

What would you say to that?

>> Unfortunately, guns are not the only ways that domestic partners kill each other.

And there not the only ways that coercion and manipulations are used.

If guns were removed from every one these situations, I think a diligent person who is trying to harm their domestic partner would find another way.

They would use a knife, they would use more advanced tools first regulation, or -- strangulation.

I've seen a lot of court files come across our desk, it's not always guns.

I am a very conservative Republican woman who grew up on a farm.

It's not the guns.

It's the people.

We still need to find a way to protect women and men who find themselves in a situation where they need to kill their domestic partner save their own life.

>> What are the prospects for this coming into law?

>> We are going to look at rejecting the Senate amendments which would cause it to go to a conference committee.

And then conferees will be assigned, and then we will have an opportunity to sit down and hammer out the details of this bill.

>> Do you feel confident that it is going forward?

>> I do.

I've had three bills signed by the governor so far this session, and this session has been the most contentious one I've seen in five years.

A lot of really good policy has not made it through because of the politics inside our capital right now.

>> You're not sure.

>> I'm not sure, but I feel good about it.

Think use so much for talking to us today.

>> Thank you for having me.

Christiane: That's it for our program tonight, if you want to find out what's coming up every night, sign up for our newsletter.

Thank you for watching and join us again next time.

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