Podcasts · News

The Foreign Desk

Monocle

100 episodes

Presented by Andrew Mueller, Monocle’s flagship global-affairs show features expert guests and in-depth analysis of the big issues of the week. Nominated for ‘Best Current Affairs’ show and the ‘Spotlight Award’ in the 2022 British Podcast Awards.

Episodes page 2 of 2

  1. Explainer 518: Duterte vs Marcos in the latest episode of Filipino Family Feud

    · 7:07

    The feud between the Philippines’ most powerful political dynasties continues. This week, vice-president Sara Duterte was impeached. Andrew Mueller unpacks the latest turn in the country’s ongoing political saga. See…

  2. The rise of the middle powers

    · 38 min

    As great powers become increasingly unstable and unpredictable, smaller nations are building alliances and trade deals. Guests including Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, consider whether we have entered the age of…

  3. Explainer 517: How the revival of gerrymandering is hurting democracy

    · 7:00

    What is gerrymandering and why is its recent revival bad for US democracy? Andrew Mueller explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Live from Delphi: Can Europe remake itself into a superpower?

    · 39 min

    As Europe contends with the multiplying conflicts on its doorstep and the withdrawal of US protection, can the continent make itself into a modern superpower? Paolo Gentiloni, Mikhail Kasyanov and more weigh in. See…

  5. Explainer 516: Are Albertans about to leave Canada?

    · 7:40

    Who are the separatists campaigning for a vote of independence in Alberta, Canada? And how real is the threat? Andrew Mueller explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. Live from Delphi: Can the US and Europe find a way back?

    · 40 min

    This year’s Delphi Economic Forum was the stage for much contemplation over Europe’s relationship with the US. Does anyone, even his own supporters, understand President Trump? We hear from Peter Baker and others. See…

  7. Explainer 515: Has King Charles saved the special relationship?

    · 7:28

    Given Donald Trump’s fondness for royalty, who better than King Charles III to smooth US-UK tensions? Andrew Mueller considers whether the current state visit has delivered a diplomatic win for palace soft power. See…

  8. Live from Delphi: Europe breaks with the US over the war in Iran

    · 39 min

    Live from the Delphi Economic Forum: The war in Iran’s impact as seen from Iraqi Kurdistan, the US and Estonia. Is there a strategy to resolve the conflict? Then: has the war turned cracks in the Transatlantic…

  9. Explainer 514: Why is Teddy Afro’s music roiling Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed?

    · 7:00

    Ethiopian superstar Teddy Afro has taken aim at the country’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, in new song “Das Tal”. What’s being protested and should Ahmed be concerned ahead of general elections? See…

  10. From Maga to Orbán: The cracks emerging in the global right

    · 30 min

    In recent years, the rise of the right has seemed unstoppable. But are rifts among US Republicans over Iran and the fall of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán a sign that the tide is turning? See omnystudio.com/listener for…

  11. Explainer 513: Why does Viktor Orbán’s defeat matter?

    · 7:29

    Despite a relatively small population and limited economic power, Hungary’s general election result, turning out far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán in favour of conservative Péter Magyar, has outsized international…

  12. Operation Epic Fury: Is that it?

    · 29 min

    A ceasefire has been announced between Iran, the US and Israel, but are all parties in agreement on the terms? Who is the victor? And what did Operation Epic Fury actually achieve? See omnystudio.com/listener for…

  13. Explainer 512: Why is JD Vance in Hungary?

    · 7:32

    US vice-president JD Vance is in Hungary to bolster its prime minister, Viktor Orbán, ahead of elections this weekend. The VP accused the EU of “foreign election interference” – but why is he getting involved? See…

  14. As the war in Iran enters its second month, is victory for anyone still possible?

    · 28 min

    Iran’s regime is battered but intact and holding the Strait of Hormuz while the US is militarily dominant but strategically stagnant. Is victory for anyone still possible? Do realistic off-ramps exist? See…

  15. Explainer 511: Why is Germany telling Syrians to return home?

    · 7:12

    At a joint press conference this week, chancellor Friedrich Merz and president Ahmed al-Sharaa encouraged Syrians to return home. But who benefits from the plan? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  16. Why has Israel invaded Lebanon?

    · 33 min

    Israel has invaded Lebanon, again. With more than 1,000 people killed and 1.2 million displaced, many fear a return to civil war. What does Israel want from this? Does Lebanon have any options? See…

  17. Explainer 510: From Angola with love: are there Russian spies in southern Africa?

    · 6:59

    This week two Russians are on trial in Angola, accused of espionage. Has the southern African nation been infiltrated by foreign spies or are they scapegoats for a failing government? Andrew Mueller explains. See…

  18. The war in Iran: the global fallout

    · 35 min

    The consequences of the US-Israel war in Iran are rippling around the world. Can Volodymyr Zelensky retain focus on the war in Ukraine? Will an already fragile Nato splinter? Is this the end of rules-based order? See…

  19. Explainer 509: Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list?

    · 7:06

    Despite the ongoing military strikes in Iran, Donald Trump has been sizing up his next potential conquest: Cuba. But could, would and should he actually strike the country? Andrew Mueller explains. See…

  20. Iran: Are the US and Israel fighting the same war?

    · 44 min

    The US and Israel have a shared target in Iran but do they have the same goals? We discuss with guests including John Bolton and Nate Swanson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  21. Explainer 508: How did rapper Balen become prime minister of Nepal?

    · 6:39

    Rapper turned politician Balendrah Shah was elected Nepal’s prime minister this week. Andrew Mueller traces his political ascent, fuelled by last year’s Gen-Z protests. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

  22. The Foreign Desk Exclusive: Canada prime minister Mark Carney on the new world order

    · 30 min

    Canada’s Mark Carney sits down with Monocle’s editorial director and chairman, Tyler Brûlé, to discuss how middle powers can shape the future, the importance of a national brand and finding opportunities in global…

  23. Live special: War in Iran

    · 46 min

    We head to Dubai, New York and Jerusalem for the latest developments as the war in Iran grips the Gulf. How are civilians faring? How is the US explaining this war? Is an off-ramp possible? See omnystudio.com/listener…

  24. Explainer 507: Pakistan-Afghanistan: What’s fuelling this week’s overlooked conflict?

    · 6:59

    While the world’s eyes are on Iran, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have flared into open conflict. What is driving the latest escalation? Andrew Mueller explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

  25. Munich Security Conference special: Is Europe awake yet?

    · 35 min

    US senator Lisa Murkowski, Kosovo’s prime minister Albin Kurti and French minister delegate for European affairs Benjamin Haddad discuss whether Europe is ready to become a global leader as the transatlantic…

  26. Explainer 506: How did Mexico’s drug cartels bring the country to a standstill?

    · 7:32

    How did the killing of “El Mencho”, head of CJNG drug cartel, lead to tourists being trapped in Puerto Vallarta? Plus: How does this fit in with President Sheinbaum’s domestic policy and her relationship with Donald…

  27. Munich Security Conference special: Will the transatlantic alliance survive?

    · 45 min

    After a bruising year following JD Vance’s speech at the last Munich Security Conference, we discuss the state of relations between Europe and the US. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  28. Powering Purpose in Munich

    · 26 min

    A special episode in association with Hitachi Energy, recorded before the Munich Security Conference. Andrew Mueller and Carlota Rebelo discuss the energy transition with Hitachi Energy’s Maxine Ghavi; Markus Blume,…

  29. Explainer 505: Are the Winter Olympics apolitical?

    · 7:13

    Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was not allowed to compete in a helmet decorated with pictures of athletes killed in the war with Russia. But is it really true that the Olympics are apolitical? See…

  30. Is it worth prosecuting the powerful?

    · 34 min

    As the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte awaits trial in The Hague, we consider the difficulties around prosecuting individual leaders. Does it work as a deterrent for governments? And what is it like to defend one? See…

  31. Explainer 504: The jailing of Jimmy Lai: China’s stand against Hong Kong media and the UK’s middling response

    · 7:23

    Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Despite having a British passport, the UK’s response has been limited. Andrew Mueller explains China’s latest blow to free press. See…

  32. Could this be the end of Iran’s regime?

    · 33 min

    From the 1979 hostage crisis to strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, US-Iran tensions have simmered for decades. But are Trump’s latest threats against the ayatollahs serious? Or will imminent talks in Muscat cool the…

  33. Explainer 503: Why is the US making nice with West African juntas?

    · 7:50

    Given Trump’s recent, more combative approach to foreign policy, it was surprising to see the US extend the hand of friendship to West Africa’s military dictators this week. So what’s behind this new alliance? See…

  34. The capture of Nicolás Maduro: a new horizon for Venezuela and American foreign policy?

    · 34 min

    One month on from US forces seizing the now former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, its impact still remains unclear. Will Caracas’s new leader bring any real change? Is Trump’s aversion to foreign entanglements…

  35. Explainer 502: The two-man rivalry fuelling South Sudan’s civil war

    · 6:32

    This week, General Johnson Olony, deputy chief of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, ordered troops to “spare no one”. Andrew Mueller unpacks the two-man power struggle at the top and how it continues to fuel…

  36. Live from Nuuk: Trump’s threats grip Greenland

    · 42 min

    ‘The Foreign Desk’ reports from Nuuk as Trump’s threat of force grips Greenland. Is Nuuk closer now to Copenhagen or is independence more important than ever? Can the damage done to Nato be repaired? See…

  37. Explainer 501: Why does Trump really want Greenland?

    · 8:25

    Are Donald Trump’s designs on Greenland in any way explainable? Andrew Mueller does his best to try. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  38. Trump: One down, three to go... (in theory)

    · 33 min

    As President Trump completes the first year of his second term, we take stock. Is there a plan underpinning the chaos – or is chaos the plan? And what will the next three years hold? See omnystudio.com/listener for…

  39. Explainer 500: Why are Malaysia and Indonesia alone in taking on Grok?

    · 7:49

    Only Malaysia and Indonesia have threatened a ban on X unless its AI assistant, Grok, stops producing sexually explicit content. Why is the rest of the world staying silent? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy…

  40. What can the world expect in 2026?

    · 29 min

    Andrew Mueller and our expert panel discuss the key issues to keep an eye on in 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  41. Explainer 499: Why is Donald Trump ‘running’ Venezuela?

    · 8:41

    Trump has pledged to ‘run’ Venezuela after US forces captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro. Is this the beginning of a tripolar world between the US, China and Russia? And should Greenland, Cuba and Colombia be on edge?…

  42. The best of the Explainer 2025

    · 35 min

    The most notable world events that we explained in 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  43. The best of 2025

    · 40 min

    Andrew Mueller reflects on some of his favourite, and most impactful, conversations from the year on 'The Foreign Desk' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  44. 2025 in review

    · 34 min

    Andrew Mueller and our expert panel look back at the world events that shaped 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  45. Explainer 498: Belarus’s balloon offensive

    · 7:30

    Lithuania has been beleaguered by balloons drifting into its airspace from neighbouring Belarus. What are the military advantages of this seemingly whimsical mode of transportation? And how severe is the threat? Andrew…

  46. Could Taiwan draw the US, China and Japan into war?

    · 29 min

    Japan prime minister Sanae Takaichi’s assertion that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a threat to her nation’s survival has spurred a crisis between Tokyo and Beijing. Can de-escalation be achieved? See…

  47. Explainer 497: The art of (stopping) the coup

    · 6:31

    Benin has become the latest West African state to face a coup. Andrew Mueller explains how the region’s history of upheavals gave president Patrice Talon the tools to stop the attempt. See omnystudio.com/listener for…

  48. One year on from the toppling of the Assad regime, how far has Syria’s revolution come?

    · 34 min

    One year on from the spectacular toppling of the Assad regime, has the Syrian revolution achieved its aims? How well is President al-Sharaa governing and remaking his image? Will global intervention help or hurt the…

  49. Explainer 496: Is Hegseth in deep water?

    · 6:56

    Self-styled US “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth is facing criticism for striking boats off the coast of Venezuela, killing more than 80 people. But will there be any consequences? See omnystudio.com/listener for…

  50. Powering Purpose in Brussels

    · 28 min

    A special episode in association with Hitachi Energy, recorded at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels. Andrew Mueller discusses the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition with a…

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.