The Monocle Daily

Monocle

Hear our take on the news and enjoy sharp reporting on the big stories every weekday. Tune in as our guest panel reviews the day’s events in Europe, follows developing stories in the Americas and welcomes early risers in Asia and Australasia. Plus: reports and analysis from Monocle’s correspondents and bureaux around the world. Nominated for ‘Best Daily Podcast’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

101 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes101

Newest first

Yesterday · 40 min
How Oman has turned mediation into part of its foreign-policy identity
Iran’s foreign ministry is discussing a new Strait of Hormuz shipping route with Oman. Julie Norman and Mark Earls explore Oman’s soft-power influence. Plus: what makes residents spend a weekend in their own city? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Friday · 42 min
Packing up the car for your summer holidays? Here’s the Monocle guide to sunny road trips
Our weekly quiz dives into Anthony Fauci’s diary and public nuisances in Singapore. Then: as Europeans drive off on their holidays, our Monocle contributors give you their recommendations for the best food, tunes and etiquette while on the road. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thursday · 34 min
Iceland’s EU referendum and our shortcuts to a happier summer
Inga Thordar and Alexander Görlach on Iceland’s looming EU referendum and why the organisation is popular again. Plus: an aerial-firefighting CEO and shortcuts to a happier summer from our ‘Med, Mountains & More’ newspaper. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wednesday · 36 min
Refuelling in southern France: Firefighters make progress but bigger challenges remain
Thomas Waterhouse joins us from Lacanau, where French water bombers are refilling from a nearby lake to fight the fires. Our panel of Ash Bhardwaj and Zoë Grünewald assess the fallout for tourism and politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 28 · 35 min
Broken norms: Are leaders less shy about backing other countries’ candidates?
Antônio Sampaio and Marion Messmer discuss Argentine president Javier Milei’s direct intervention in Brazil’s elections, endorsing Flávio Bolsonaro and calling President Lula a “convict” and “delinquent”. Has it become the norm for politicians to intervene across borders? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 27 · 43 min
The conflicts in Ukraine and Iran converge. Plus: What to make of political leaders’ attire?
Regional conflicts in Ukraine and Iran intersect as Kyiv hits a ship from Tehran in the Caspian Sea. Could the wars become global? Then: Can we learn from political leaders’ sartorial decisions – or are we too buttoned up? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 24 · 34 min
Is controlling the sun the brightest idea?
Tira Shubart and Andrew Mueller discuss the plans to reflect the sun’s rays in a way to capitalise on solar energy. What could possibly go wrong for life on Earth? Plus: a light round-up of the week’s events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 23 · 40 min
The costs of war for the US and who will foot Pakistan’s mediation bill?
Charles Hecker and Patti Cohen on the effects of Yemen’s Houthis on global shipping, how much the Iran war will cost the US, whether Pakistan will get compensated for mediation and how fresh EU sanctions impact Russia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 22 · 36 min
The message that a US deal allowing Saudi nuclear enrichment sends to the world
Hannah Lucinda Smith and Erin O’Halloran assess the global impact of a US agreement to build out Saudi Arabia’s nuclear energy programme. Plus: why Japan’s prime minister was pleased to get five hours of sleep over the weekend. And Guy De Launey reports on a Balkan conspiracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 21 · 31 min
What UK prime minister Andy Burnham’s new cabinet tells us and the French far right shuns Elon Musk
Andy Burnham’s cabinet sit down for their first meeting: what can we learn from their early policy positions? Then: why is the French far right bucking the tech-bro trend and shunning Elon Musk? Plus: Chengdu’s West Village. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 20 · 39 min
Andy Burnham takes charge in the UK – but does changing leaders midterm ever work?
Alex von Tunzelmann and Justin Quirk on the chances of Andy Burnham succeeding where Sir Keir Starmer could not. Plus: Farnborough International Airshow opens and an interview with Jack Watling, author of new book Statecraft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 17 · 35 min
Vladimir Putin’s approval rating plummets and protests continue in Ukraine
Monocle writer Julia Jenne looks at the consequences of the cabinet reshuffle in Kyiv and why Vladimir Putin’s popularity is dropping in Russia. Then: Andrew Mueller and Robert Bound test each other’s news knowledge in our weekly quiz. And: we hear from Italo disco revivalists Mind Enterprises. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 16 · 38 min
Change at the top in Ukraine and the 10-year anniversary of Turkey’s failed coup
The Ukrainian president’s decision to dismiss popular defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked anger. Then: Ten years after a failed coup, what’s next for Turkey? And: China bans chatbots built for companionship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 15 · 35 min
Who or what can stop the US-Iran conflict from becoming a forever war?
Iran and the US are back in conflict. Daniella Peled and Ash Bhardwaj discuss who (else) can bring an end to the war with Iran if the IRGC and the Trump administration fail to cease hostilities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 14 · 41 min
The art of the military parade: Bastille Day and other case studies
France offered a show of military force and European unity during Emmanuel Macron’s last Bastille Day parade. Is there such a thing as a good display of military might? Our panel, including Michael Binyon and Elisabeth Braw, discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 13 · 39 min
Was diplomacy given a chance? Iran and US point to failures, as fighting resumes
Negah Angha and John Everard on the US and Iran’s failure to give diplomacy a chance. Then: Japan aims to centralise intelligence and French parents bring kids to work. Plus: Sally Hayden’s book This Is Also a Love Story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 10 · 35 min
The World Cup as a global policing operation
We look inside the Fifa International Police Co-operation Center, which brings together the law enforcement agencies of every competing country to share intelligence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 9 · 34 min
US and Iran trade strikes on day of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s burial
The burial of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei is now set to go ahead after delays due to US strikes. Then: India and Australia reach a uranium deal, Nigel Farage meets a bin-worthy opponent and should shorts in the office be banned? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 8 · 38 min
Trump uses trade to punish Spain over defence spend
US president Donald Trump has ordered a halt to trade with Spain, the only Nato member that hasn’t committed to the alliance’s new target of defence spending at 5 per cent of GDP. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
July 7 · 36 min
Top defence spenders Estonia takes its seat at the Nato conference in Ankara
All eyes are on Estonia at the Nato conference in Ankara as the Baltic nation looks to spend more than €10bn euros on defense over the next three years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.