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.

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101 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes101

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May 11 · 38 min
Europe considers whether Gerhard Schröder should act as a mediator in Ukraine war peace talks
We assess Europe’s reaction to Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder should act as a mediator in Ukraine war peace talks. Then: are conspiracy theories more powerful than satire in modern America? Plus: fake influencers and John Robb’s new book, ‘Punk Rock Ruined My Life’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 8 · 47 min
Decoding the Venice Biennale
We explore whether early controversies over this year’s Venice Biennale have eclipsed the art with our culture editor, Sophie Monaghan-Coombs. Plus: Russia’s Victory Day parade and our weekly Friday quiz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 7 · 39 min
Israel strikes Beirut despite new ceasefire. Will it jeopardise a wider peace deal?
Could Lebanon pose an obstacle to a regional peace deal at a time when the world is waiting for Iran’s response to a US proposal to end the war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 6 · 39 min
Remembering Ted Turner and one year of Friedrich Merz
We look back on the life of Ted Turner, founder of CNN, with former network host Fionnuala Sweeney. Then: our panel of Quentin Peel and Armida van Rij assesses Germany’s Friedrich Merz one year into his chancellorship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 5 · 38 min
Asymmetric warfare from the Strait of Hormuz to Ukraine and Lebanon
Our panellists Isabel Hilton and Somnath Batabyal discuss how Iran, Ukraine and even Hezbollah are using drones to frustrate much larger armed forces. Also: why are the US and China firing all their generals? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 4 · 38 min
American troop drawdown in Germany and Canada joins European summit
Robin Lustig and Alex von Tunzelmann discuss the American troop drawdown in Germany and Mark Carney joining a summit of the European Political Community in Yerevan. Plus: Joe Luc Barnes’s book, ‘Farewell to Russia’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 1 · 42 min
Our weekly quiz and what King Charles meant to say in Washington
Andrew Mueller and Rob Bound return for a quiz on the week’s headlines. Then: Charlotte McDonald-Gibson joins from Washington to dissect King Charles’s visit, pageantry and speech before US Congress. Plus: music from Corb Lund and Hayes Carll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 30 · 36 min
Trump and Putin talk: much said but little gained?
We look at the latest call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, who both find themselves in wars with no obvious end. Then: Greece and Ukraine hit a stumbling block on drone co-operation. Plus: can anonymity on the internet be banned? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 29 · 37 min
Nothing to see here: Russia plans military parade with no weaponry on show
We discuss the drivers behind Putin scaling back this year’s Victory Day commemorations. Then: The Afghanistan-Pakistan ceasefire teeters and former FBI director James Comey faces fresh charges from the Trump administration. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 28 · 41 min
Leaders in crisis: A Keir Starmer inquiry and embattled Friedrich Merz
Keir Starmer’s days as PM might be numbered as MPs vote on an inquiry into his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. Then: Friedrich Merz nears one year as German chancellor with historically low approval ratings. Plus: breaking news with Manus Cranny as the UAE leaves Opec. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 27 · 37 min
King Charles, Jordan Bardella and our royal fascination
King Charles III goes to Washington to rescue the special relationship and France is talking about Jordan Bardella’s love affair with a Sicilian princess. What is it with our royal fascination? Plus: how Germany’s Bundeswehr plans to lead Europe’s military rearmament and ‘madman theory’ with James D Boys. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 25 · 45 min
That’s a wrap: Our weekly quiz and a look back at Salone del Mobile
Emma Nelson takes on Rob Bound in the weekly quiz and Nic Monisse and Grace Charlton round up their week at Salone del Mobile. Plus: An alternative look at the recent news cycle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 23 · 36 min
The politics of economic shocks – which countries can weather the Iran conflict?
As more ships are seized in and around the Strait of Hormuz and an uneasy ceasefire continues, our panel assesses which countries are best equipped – politically and economically – to withstand the shocks that continue to reverberate around the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 22 · 35 min
Has Iran gained the upper hand through negotiation (and memes)?
We explore US president Donald Trump’s ceasefire extension and how Iran has seemingly managed to control much of the narrative without even attending talks in Islamabad – and also through an extraordinary amount of memes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 21 · 41 min
Ukraine hopes for fresh EU loan and the race for the next UN secretary general
Hungary is poised to end its blockade of an EU loan for Ukraine while Sweden suggests that Russia is hiding its economic troubles. Plus: auditions for the next United Nations secretary general begin in New York. Then: an interview with Venetian chef Simon Piovesan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 20 · 40 min
Can Starmer stay the course?
After Keir Starmer pleads ignorance over Peter Mandelson’s failed vetting, how long can he survive as UK leader? We explore Europe’s changing democratic landscape. Plus: Horse-meat pies have become a menu staple in Auckland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 17 · 44 min
Our weekly quiz and a look ahead to Salone del Mobile
Rob Bound and Andrew Mueller quiz each other on this week’s headlines. Then: a design perspective on Donald Trump’s Jesus memes and what to see at the the world’s leading trade fair for furniture and interiors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 16 · 39 min
Macron and Starmer take the lead on securing the Strait of Hormuz: will they cut Trump out?
France and the UK are to meet with “non-belligerent” countries to discuss how best to police the waterway after a ceasefire. How will excluding the US play out? Plus: the UK rejoins the EU’s Erasmus exchange scheme. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 15 · 42 min
Israel and Lebanon face to face for the first time in decades
The first meeting between officials since 1993 but will diplomacy make a difference? We discuss what can be achieved as Lebanon and Israel agree to direct negotiations, while attacks between Hezbollah and Israel continue. Plus: Democrats want JD Vance to help oust Trump and Hungary’s Péter Magyar comes out swinging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 14 · 35 min
Fresh US-Iran talks and China’s new international role
We break down the prospect of new US-Iran negotiations as Washington’s blockade in the Strait of Hormuz continues. Plus: is Hungary’s Viktor Orbán the first far-right domino to fall? And: Japan’s new “guilty consumption” boom. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.