The Monocle Daily
840 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 35 ratingsHear 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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Episodes
The US House considers Ukraine aid and a Salone del Mobile review
April 19, 2024 18:05 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBOur in-house edition of ‘The Monocle Daily’ explores the US House of Representatives’ fight over military aid for Ukraine and the next steps to secure funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction. Plus: reviews of Salone del Mobile and the Venice Biennale from Monocle’s teams on the ground. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The EU, US and China
April 18, 2024 18:14 - 50 minutes - 46 MBOur guests Latika Bourke and Vincent McAviney discuss Europe rising to the challenge of the US and China, why it’s so hard for Trump jurors to be impartial and why Japanese doctors are suing Google Maps. Plus: Croatia’s elections, with Guy de Launey, a check-in from Salone del Mobile and a letter from Railay Beach See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Zelensky calls for increased air defence after Chernihiv strike
April 17, 2024 18:03 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBG7 foreign ministers meet in Italy amid calls for sanctions on Iran, Ukraine struggles against Russia from lack of US aid, Australia unveils its new defence strategy and bad news for Europe’s smokers. Plus: ‘On This Day’ examines The Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US and Iran make contact through Swiss intermediaries
April 16, 2024 18:06 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBSwitzerland represents US interests in Iran, jury selection continues in Trump’s hush-money trial, China’s economy makes a surprising expansion and why Georgia’s parliament descended into mass brawl. Plus: The role of art during times of war and suffering. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Monday 15 April
April 15, 2024 18:28 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBHear 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Russian attacks destroy Kyiv’s largest power plant
April 12, 2024 18:01 - 42 minutes - 39 MBPower shortages hit Ukraine after Russian attacks, the Ukrainian World Congress Summit commences in Bucharest, the heatwave in Paris that could bring the Olympics to a standstill, highlights from the Watches & Wonders trade fair in Geneva and the final day of the Delphi Economic Forum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trudeau claims China unsuccessfully meddled in Canada’s elections
April 11, 2024 17:46 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBAccording to Justin Trudeau, China has meddled in Canada’s past two elections; after an eight-year deadlock the EU passes an asylum and migration pact; a Japanese astronaut is set to be first non-American to walk on the Moon and Italy finally launches its long-awaited digital nomad visa. Plus: we receive a letter from Milan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Japan’s Fumio Kishida warns world at ‘historic turning point’
April 10, 2024 17:46 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBJoe Biden welcomes Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, as a “global partner” at a White House summit, the Arizona Supreme Court upends Donald Trump’s gambit on abortion, UK ministers consider banning sale of smartphones to under-16s and a German gallery fires employee for hanging their own art in exhibition. Plus: ‘Saveur’ magazine is back in business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
ECHR rules that Switzerland’s climate failures breached human rights
April 09, 2024 17:51 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBIran looks to respond to Israel’s attack on its Damascus consulate, the ECHR condemns Switzerland for climate inaction in the first ruling of its kind, how cholera disinformation led to the Mozambique ferry disaster and why Putin miscalculated his threat about Finland’s border. Plus: Bollywood’s influence on India’s elections. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, arrives in China
April 08, 2024 18:07 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBSergey Lavrov is in China to discuss Ukraine and Asia-Pacific relations. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice hears a case accusing Germany of facilitating genocide in Gaza through its support of Israel. Plus: tensions between India and Pakistan over basmati rice, how war has changed life in Ukraine’s Swedish-speaking village and Dwayne Johnson rescinds his endorsement of Joe Biden. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A look ahead to South Africa’s elections and a total solar eclipse
April 05, 2024 17:50 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBMonocle’s Emma Searle discusses South Africa’s parliamentary election next month and how significant it is among the roster of global polls in 2024. Then: Tom Webb and Fernando Augusto Pacheco talk artificial intelligence, robotaxis in San Francisco and juice conspiracies. Plus: we report from Niagara Falls as it braces for a once-in-a-century total solar eclipse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nato’s past and present
April 04, 2024 17:48 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBDaniella Peled and Ali Borhani discuss Nato at 75 and how its mission has changed. We also explore Israel’s alleged use of artificial intelligence in warfare, Kuwait’s unheralded elections and why Bavarian police are doing without trousers. Plus: a letter from Washington during cherry-blossom season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
World Central Kitchen and the humanitarian aid imperative
April 03, 2024 17:56 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBMark Lowcock and Caroline Frost discuss Israel’s strike on World Central Kitchen and the risky work of humanitarian organisations. We also explore whether Ukraine will get enough funding to hold the frontline, why Botswana’s threat to send Germany 20,000 elephants is nothing to laugh about, and why the moon is about to get its own time zone. Plus: The death of Jesse James on this day in 1882. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Israel’s take on foreign media and Swiss councillors give up ski passes
April 02, 2024 17:56 - 34 minutes - 32.1 MBNina dos Santos and Jonathan Fenby discuss Israel’s new “Al-Jazeera law”, whether China’s influence extends to rail and why Swiss federal councillors have given up their biggest job perk. Plus: we preview Slovakia’s presidential election run-off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Monday 1 April
April 01, 2024 18:13 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBSimon Brooke and Lynne O’Donell discuss all the day’s big stories. Plus: we meet Ukrainian film director Ivan Sautkin, director of documentary film, ‘A Poem for Little People’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The built environment, from Turkey to sports stadiums
March 29, 2024 18:55 - 45 minutes - 41.4 MBMonocle’s Istanbul correspondent, Hannah Lucinda Smith, joins our in-house show to discuss Turkey’s municipal elections and the built environment under president Erdogan. Plus: the role of stadiums in cities and we check in with The Chiefs conference in Hong Kong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Russia blames everyone but its intelligence services
March 28, 2024 18:47 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBOur panellists discuss Russia’s embarrassing intelligence failures and why it’s cracking down on gay nightclubs. Plus: the UK’s record migration levels, Donald Trump’s Bible copies and the role of religion in politics. Plus: saving the dachshund and a letter from the French Alps. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From Afghanistan to Moscow’s Crocus City Hall
March 27, 2024 19:11 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBOur panellists, Kate Clark and Vincent McAviney, explore whether Afghanistan is in danger or re-emerging as a hub of global terrorism, why the UK’s veterans’ affairs minister could face jail time, whether the great olive-oil strike of Frankfurt’s European Central Bank is justified and why moonshine is making a return. Plus: musician John Miller is live in the studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is accusing Israel of genocide useful?
March 26, 2024 18:53 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBOur panellists discuss whether the UN is right to accuse Israel of genocide, whether Julian Assange’s extradition should be blocked over the US death penalty, whether NBC should have hired Ronna McDaniel and why Vienna’s horse-drawn carriages could get a new lease on life. Plus: Michael Kimmage on his book, ‘Collisions’, about the war in Ukraine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The UN Security Council demands a ceasefire in Gaza and the Yemen Listening Project
March 25, 2024 18:54 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBTerry Stiastny and Stephen Dalziel discuss the Russia attack, the UN Security Council’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and why Kamala Harris probably wishes that she had learned Spanish. Plus: Nina dos Santos on the UK’s allegations of Chinese spying and the Yemen Listening Project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brazil’s presidential row over missing furniture
March 22, 2024 18:55 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBMonocle’s Fernando Augusto Pacheco and Christopher Cermak discuss the ongoing furniture row between Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and former president Jair Bolsonaro – and compare it to their US counterparts. Then: the latest report on global music consumption, fridge magnets as souvenirs and a music session by The Staves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The rebirth of the Weimar Triangle
March 21, 2024 18:48 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBQuentin Peel and Nadine Batchelor-Hunt examine Antony Blinken’s visit to the Middle East to discuss a postwar plan for Gaza. Then: does the return of Donald Tusk signal the rebirth of the Weimar Triangle? And why does one German politician want children to prepare for war? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ireland’s political uncertainty and Finland the happiest nation
March 20, 2024 19:08 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBWe discuss the surprise resignation of Ireland’s Leo Varadkar, whether frozen Russian assets should be used for Ukraine and why director Jonathan Glazer’s Oscars speech is sparking heated debate. Plus: Finland’s UK ambassador on why his nation is the world’s happiest and Sasha Issenberg on his new book ‘The Lie Detectives’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nuclear threats, isolationism vs interventionism and contemporary villains
March 19, 2024 19:06 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBPanellists Rebecca Tinsley and Charles Hecker discuss the UN’s warnings about nuclear threats, the unintended consequences of the US’s slide towards isolationism, Niger’s rejection of Western interventionism and the V&A’s decision to label former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher a “contemporary villain”. Plus: Andrew Mueller recounts the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on this day in 1932. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Russian elections, border shutdowns and attic discoveries
March 18, 2024 18:51 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBOur panellists Julie Norman and Petri Burtsoff discuss the fallout of Russia’s predictable elections, border policies from the US to Finland, the latest from Washington’s government-shutdown fight and one family’s curious attic discovery. Plus: comedian Joel Morris offers some tricks of the trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Will Ukraine’s plans to restart commercial flights from Kyiv take off?
March 15, 2024 18:46 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBUkraine begins talks with aviation regulators to resume international flights during martial law, we reveal the world’s coolest streets and an Australian billionaire revives their dream to set sail on ‘Titanic II’. Plus: a look back at Mipim and we explore the film ‘Banel and Adama’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Is a far-right takeover of the EU under way?
March 14, 2024 18:47 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBEU parliamentary elections are approaching and polls are predicting big gains for far-right parties. Panellists Robin Lustig and Marta Lorimer discuss the state of populist politics in Europe and whether mainstream politicians can do anything to turn the tide. Then: Denmark plans to conscript women to military service. Should the West be preparing its civilians for war? Plus: a look at the role of chess card games in politics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Putin ramps up nuclear threats
March 13, 2024 18:54 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBSean Ryan and Tina Fordham discuss Vladimir Putin’s recent nuclear rhetoric and whether independent candidates will spell trouble for Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the US presidential election. Plus: does having children really ruin your career? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Europe’s defence wake-up call
March 12, 2024 18:50 - 39 minutes - 36 MBSpecial counsel Robert Hur testifies before Congress about his investigation into Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents. Thomas Gift discusses the political implications. Meanwhile, as US support for Ukraine dwindles, pressure is mounting on Europe to get its act together and take charge of its own security. Vincent McAviney and Olga Tokariuk examine Europe’s defence wake-up call, the curious role of humour during wartime and China’s panda diplomacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Are Portugal’s far-right gains a bellwether for Europe?
March 11, 2024 19:04 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBChina’s National People’s Congress ends with a show of unity despite economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, Kyiv slams the Pope’s call for negotiations to end the war with Russia and have ‘the courage to raise the white flag’. Plus: the far-right’s gains at Portugal’s election, the Tasmanian premier’s vow to build the world’s largest chocolate fountain and Peter Pomerantsev on his new book ‘How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler’. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
10 years since the disappearance of flight MH370
March 08, 2024 18:53 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBMonocle’s Carlota Rebelo joins Andrew Mueller to look ahead to Portugal’s general election this weekend and the rise of the far-right. Then: Lilian Fawcett with a dispatch from Singapore, we hear from the director of Arco Madrid art fair and ‘On This Day’ in 2014, flight MH370 disappeared. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sweden officially joins Nato
March 07, 2024 18:48 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBOur guests, Marion Messmer and Lynne O’Donnell, discuss Sweden officially becoming a member of Nato, how foreign diplomats will be exempt from a new definition of extremism and the role of independent journalism as Pakistan jails Asad Ali Toor. Plus: Monocle’s Tom Webb brings us a letter from St Moritz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gaza ceasefire talks continue in Cairo
March 06, 2024 18:57 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBDaniella Peled and John Everard look at Super Tuesday, as Donald Trump and Joe Biden sweep their respective primary elections and caucuses; Hamas pushes ahead with ceasefire talks in Cairo, despite the absence of Israeli negotiators; and we look at when political interviews go wrong. Plus: we sit down with the director and stars of ‘Wicked Little Letters’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Emmanuel Macron is in Prague to request Ukraine arms
March 05, 2024 19:03 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBAliona Hlivco and Patti Cohen discuss Emmanuel Macron’s push to send arms to Ukraine, Hungary’s opposition of Mark Rutte’s Nato candidacy and China’s economic growth target. Plus: we hear from former Australian tourism minister John Brown and Switzerland opens a clinic for TikTok addicts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
No press conference for premier Li Qiang at China’s National People’s Congress
March 04, 2024 19:11 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBChina’s premier Li Qiang will not be holding the customary press conference at the National People’s Congress in Beijing. We discuss the implications of China’s decision to break with tradition. Meanwhile, Kenya signs a deal with Haiti to send 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean; Germany faces a backlash after accidentally leaking UK military secrets about operations in Ukraine; and Miami Beach attempts to discourage spring breakers from visiting with a new campaign. Plus: we speak to Bri...
Why is Ankara helping Somalia defend its waters?
March 01, 2024 19:03 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBAs Turkey and Somalia expand their defence deal to include maritime security, we get the latest from our correspondent in Istanbul. Then: our design editor brings us a round-up of the latest architecture and urbanism stories, we’re at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair and musician Buffalo Nichols stops by to play us ‘The Difference’ song. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
India’s farmers take to the streets
February 29, 2024 18:52 - 38 minutes - 35 MBLatika Bourke and Somnath Batabyal join Monocle’s Andrew Mueller to discuss Vladimir Putin’s state of the nation address – and his warnings to the West of a nuclear war. Then: India’s farmers are protesting but how will this affect Narendra Modi ahead of the country’s election? Plus: Rotterdam’s mayor wants tougher drug controls, the French satirical newspaper that is only published on leap years and a letter from our man in the Balkans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How is the war in Gaza affecting US elections?
February 28, 2024 18:58 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBGuests Elisabeth Braw and Vincent McAviney discuss the primary elections in Michigan and assess how the war in Gaza is affecting voters in the US. Then: the future of European defence, a look at whether the Olympic Games will help revitalise the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris and a look at Pew Research Center’s new survey on democratic governance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Could Western troops fight in Ukraine?
February 27, 2024 18:54 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBAs Emmanuel Macron says that Western troops could fight in Ukraine, our guests Tessa Szyszkowitz and William Patey assess whether France is trying to become Europe’s military leader. Then: the Taliban releases an Austrian far-right extremist in a deal mediated by Qatar and we speak with Yaroslav Trofimov about his new book ‘Our Enemies Will Vanish’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Protests, CPAC and the return of cash
February 26, 2024 18:57 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBTerry Stiastny and Ben Kelly discuss the role of protests during a conflict, whether Ireland could ever join Nato, short-haul flights and whether cash is becoming king for a new generation. Plus: A look back at the weekend that was at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
February 23, 2024 19:03 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBWe speak to Monocle’s US editor, Chris Lord, about political threats in the US and UK, and Julia Lasica about the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Plus: a letter from Kyiv and an interview with a Japanese violinist playing Norway’s traditional fiddle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Live from Warsaw
February 22, 2024 18:55 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBMonocle Radio broadcasts live from our inaugural party in Warsaw, with guests and Monocle contributors exploring what makes the Polish capital tick – and why Poland should be on everyone’s radar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US role in Gaza and London’s thinnest hotel
February 21, 2024 18:53 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBJulie Norman and Charles Hecker explore whether the US and UN have any real influence over the war in Gaza and why the US still needs to make a point about Julian Assange. Then: we discuss whether the Conservative Political Action Conference is still important and why London will soon get its thinnest hotel. Plus: an interview with Austrian General Robert Brieger. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Gaza aid, forgotten crises and Haiti’s indictments
February 20, 2024 19:17 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBOur guests Nadine Batchelor-Hunt and Mark Lowcock discuss the trouble of getting aid into Gaza and the forgotten crises of Sudan and Tigray, Ethiopia. Then: a study on the differences between men’s and women’s brains. Plus: we hear from Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and get the latest on the 50 people implicated in a former Haitian leader’s assassination. x See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ukraine’s way forward after Munich
February 19, 2024 19:00 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBDaniella Peled and Bill Hayton discuss Ukraine’s way forward, Israel’s deadline for a Rafah ground offensive, China’s law-enforcement deal with Hungary and Donald Trump’s shoe brand. Plus: On This Day looks at the world’s shortest-ever presidency. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
World leaders react to the death of Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny
February 16, 2024 19:15 - 51 minutes - 47.5 MBWe speak to the prime ministers of Greece and Lithuania about the death of activist and Putin critic Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison. Plus: the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, global leaders gather in Dubai and the renaissance of Swedish pop powerhouse Roxette in Brazil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
US warnings over Russia’s nuclear advances and Japan’s slip into recession
February 15, 2024 19:10 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBChristopher Cermak is joined by political commentator Carole Walker and Asia defence expert Alessio Patalano to discuss US warnings that Russia is developing a space-based nuclear weapon. Plus: Andrew Mueller checks in from Germany ahead of the Munich Security Conference. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Former general leads Indonesia’s presidential race and the dating app that requires a high credit score
February 14, 2024 18:55 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBJustin Trudeau discusses the possibility of ceasefire in Gaza with King Abdullah II of Jordan, a former general leads Indonesia’s presidential race, why China recognises the Taliban’s envoy to Beijing, and North Korea hacks emails of an aide to South Korea’s president. Plus: the dating app that can only be joined by those with a credit score of 675 or above. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
US Senate passes Ukraine aid bill and France accuses Russia of disinformation campaign
February 13, 2024 19:01 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBMonocle’s US editor, Christopher Lord, on the Senate’s approval of a long-delayed $95bn (€88bn) aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Plus: France uncovers a Russian disinformation campaign in Europe, the Super Bowl breaks TV records and a special interview with historian Tripurdaman Singh about his new book, ‘Sixteen Stormy Days’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Biden-Netanyahu relations sour and Germany fears a far-right takeover of the judiciary
February 12, 2024 18:59 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MBJoe Biden disparages Benjamin Netanyahu in private but hasn’t changed US policy towards Israel; Germany looks to prevent far-right takeover of the judiciary; Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, heads to France and Germany to strengthen alliance as fears grow over Russia and Trump; and why a Waymo robotaxi was attacked and set on fire in San Francisco. Plus: Elizabeth Braw on her new book, ‘Goodbye Globalization: The Return of a Divided World’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...