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:...
Location:
London, United Kingdom
Networks:
Monocle
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Contact:
Midori House, 1 Dorset Street, London, W1U 4EG, UK +44 20 7725 4388
Email:
info@monocle.com
Episodes
Are the Abraham Accords the key to peace or pure puffery?
5/26/2026
US president Donald Trump wants to make more Middle Eastern countries sign the Abraham Accords as part of a peace agreement – but would it actually make a difference? Then: The French presidential race hots up.
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Duration:00:39:37
Is the war in Iran creating a rift between Trump and Netanyahu?
5/25/2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly admitted he is losing sway over President Trump in how to handle the war in Iran. Then: the state of press freedom in the US and the domestic lives of entertainment icons.
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Duration:00:37:56
Has World Urban Forum delivered on its theme of ‘Housing The World’?
5/22/2026
As the World Urban Forum comes to a close in Baku, we hear from Anacláudia Rossbach, the executive director of UN-Habitat, and Prasoon Kumar, architect and founder of Billion Bricks.
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Duration:00:39:32
Why it’s up to Pakistan to keep US-Iran peace talks on track
5/21/2026
As Pakistan increases its diplomatic engagement with Tehran and Washington, we assess whether the nation can end the war. Plus: we analyse whether Raúl Castro’s indictment could lead to conflict between the US and Cuba.
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Duration:00:34:58
Xi casts China as the world’s stable power: what does this mean for the international order?
5/20/2026
Postwar international order is in flux as Xi Jinping welcomes Vladimir Putin and projects Beijing as the world’s stable power. Meanwhile, in Europe, Donald Trump announces the withdrawal of Nato troops, reportedly in response to Friedrich Merz’s criticisms. What will the effects be?
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Duration:00:38:17
The stakes of the Xi-Putin summit for Taiwan and Ukraine
5/19/2026
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet, pledging to support each other’s “core interests”. Then: Turkey looks to carve out a new role in the Middle East after the conflict in Iran. Plus: The rebellion against AI.
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Duration:00:38:55
Why Taiwan is stressing that it’s ‘not part of China’
5/18/2026
Why Taiwan is stressing that it’s ‘not part of China’. Plus: As the UAE blames Iran for a drone strike, we look at scenarios for Gulf stability; and why the rivals for British prime minister are mooting rejoining the EU.
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Duration:00:38:50
A wry wrap of the week
5/15/2026
Andrew Mueller and Rob Bound once again quiz each other over the events of the week. Then: our host delivers another zingy compilation of headlines that you might have missed. Plus: an interview with the Eurovision set designer.
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Duration:00:31:17
How the US-Iran war is casting a shadow over the Brics foreign minister meeting in India
5/14/2026
As Brics foreign ministers meet in India, the bloc faces divisions over the US-Iran war, rising energy prices and growing global economic uncertainty. Plus: are financial burdens bringing an end to expensive weddings and parties?
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Duration:00:37:23
Starmer stays resolute amid leadership challenge rumours and Trump returns to Beijing
5/13/2026
Today’s panel discusses a busy day in Whitehall and peers into its crystal ball to predict the near future. Then: we assess what has changed since Donald Trump was last invited to China. Plus: how Australia nearly built a Trump Tower.
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Duration:00:41:22
Qatar hosts Gulf talks amid a ‘serious escalation’ threatening vital supply routes
5/12/2026
Qatar moves to promote peace along with its neighbours in the Gulf during a tense moment in the Strait of Hormuz. Plus: have astronauts seen UFOs in space?
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Duration:00:39:06
Europe considers whether Gerhard Schröder should act as a mediator in Ukraine war peace talks
5/11/2026
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’.
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Duration:00:38:31
Copy of Decoding the Venice Biennale
5/8/2026
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.
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Duration:00:47:53
Israel strikes Beirut despite new ceasefire. Will it jeopardise a wider peace deal?
5/7/2026
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.
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Duration:00:39:33
Remembering Ted Turner and one year of Friedrich Merz
5/6/2026
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.
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Duration:00:39:32
Asymmetric warfare from the Strait of Hormuz to Ukraine and Lebanon
5/5/2026
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?
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Duration:00:38:46
American troop drawdown in Germany and Canada joins European summit
5/4/2026
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’
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Duration:00:38:08
Our weekly quiz and what King Charles meant to say in Washington
5/1/2026
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.
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Duration:00:42:04
Trump and Putin talk: much said but little gained?
4/30/2026
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?
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Duration:00:36:21
Nothing to see here: Russia plans military parade with no weaponry on show
4/29/2026
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.
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Duration:00:37:31