Affairs / Podcast

The Briefing

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by a Monocle editor. The show features informed reporting, prescient business analysis and invaluable industry reports covering everything from technology to aviation and retail to media.

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Can Donald Trump reach a nuclear deal with Iran?:

Holly Dagres on the “positive and constructive” talks between Iran and the US in Oman over the weekend. Also on the programme: Hong Kong’s opposition Democratic Party moves forward with its plans to dissolve and visits to the US from Western Europe plummet. Then: Amah-Rose Abrams brings us the latest arts news from Kyoto. Plus: a tribute to late Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa.

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Episode	Date	Description	Download	Play
3535	14 Apr 2025 35 min	Can Donald Trump reach a nuclear deal with Iran? Holly Dagres on the “positive and constructive” talks between Iran and the US in Oman over the weekend. Also on the programme: Hong Kong’s opposition Democratic Party moves forward with its plans to dissolve and visits to the US from Western Europe plummet. Then: Amah-Rose Abrams brings us the latest arts news from Kyoto. Plus: a tribute to late Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3534	11 Apr 2025 35 min	Istanbul’s mayor expected in court and the UK announces its own version of SNL We hear from Ruth Michaelson in Istanbul as the city’s jailed mayor is expected to appear in court. Also on the programme: Japan’s largest yakuza crime syndicate pledges to end its decade-long internal feud. Julian Ryall in Tokyo tells us more. Then: Andrew Mueller sits down with senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, Ian Brzezinski, at the Delphi Economic Forum and we hear from our team at Salone del Mobile. Plus: how transferable are TV show formats? We ask Scott Bryan as the UK announces its own version of the US’s popular Saturday Night Live.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3533	10 Apr 2025 35 min	France could recognise Palestinian statehood in June As Emmanuel Macron announces France’s plan to recognise Palestinian statehood at a conference in June, Georgina Godwin is joined by Leila Molana-Allen to discuss what the future holds for Gaza. Plus: The ‘coalition of the willing’ meet in Brussels, the Delphi Economic Forum, Milan Design Week and a Eurovision edition of ‘The Global Countdown’.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3532	9 Apr 2025 35 min	Germany’s government agrees a coalition As Germany’s CDU and SPD reach a coalition deal, we discuss what the country’s new government will look like. Also on the programme: Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have created global market turmoil – but what do the president’s allies at home think? Then: we check in with our teams at the Delphi Economic Forum and Salone del Mobile. Plus: we speak to Sam Rice-Edwards, editor of ‘One to One: John & Yoko’.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3531	8 Apr 2025 30 min	Iran and US agree to weekend talks and the soft power of ‘The White Lotus’ Washington and Tehran agree to meet in Oman this weekend – will the talks be direct or indirect? Also in the programme: we check in with our team on the ground at Salone del Mobile 2025 and get the latest in the world of diamonds. Plus: as ‘The White Lotus’ draws its third season to a close, we discuss its soft-power strength.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3530	7 Apr 2025 37 min	Markets react to Trump’s tariffs Asian and European markets tumble as Donald Trump’s trade war rattles investors, we discuss the global stakes. Then: Serbia’s political crisis deepens. Can president Aleksandar Vučić hold on to power? Plus: ‘Konfekt’ editor Sophie Grove joins the show from Milan as Salone del Mobile gets under way	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3529	4 Apr 2025 32 min	A rare show of diplomacy from the chief of Myanmar’s junta and how will Trump’s tariffs affect Northern Ireland? We unpack the latest as the chief of Myanmar’s junta joins a regional summit in Bangkok. Also in the programme: Trump’s tariffs on the UK come as a sticking point for Northern Ireland and we discuss the state of the markets. Then: Laura Kramer joins us in the studio for a round-up of the latest culture news. Plus: we look ahead to the The Plus Grande Raclette of the World competition in Switzerland.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3528	3 Apr 2025 37 min	Hungary withdraws from the ICC, Australia prepares for elections and Switzerland showcases watches Monocle’s security correspondent, Gorana Grgić, tells us what Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC means for EU foreign policy. Then: Monocle’s Canberra correspondent, Aarti Betigeri, brings us the latest from Australia’s upcoming election; our Paris bureau chief, Simon Bouvier, takes us to the world’s oldest design fair; ‘Konfekt’ editor Sophie Grove showcases the best from the Watches and Wonders salon in Geneva; and Fernando Augusto Pacheco takes us to Romania for ‘The Global Countdown’.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3527	2 Apr 2025 35 min	Europe awaits ‘Liberation Day’ Donald Trump is expected to impose his sweeping reciprocal global tariffs today. We unpack the reaction from Europe and have a look at how the world’s financial markets are responding. Also in the programme: any hope of a ceasefire in Gaza is over as Israel ramps up its ground operation in the Palestinian territory. Then: A round-up of the main stories making the papers in the Nordics and we check-in at Watches and Wonders in Geneva.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3526	1 Apr 2025 34 min	Fears of an Israeli constitutional crisis and The Michelin Guide France 2025 Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, withdraws his nomination of an ex-admiral as director of Shin Bet – we unpack why. Also in the programme, Scott Craig of the International Federation of the Red Cross provides the latest on the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar following an earthquake in the region. Then: Italy’s birthrates hit a record low, Monocle’s Ed Stocker unpacks the fallout. Plus: Chiara Rimella updates us on The Michelin Guide France 2025.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3525	31 Mar 2025 33 min	Le Pen banned from running for office We get the latest from our team in Paris as a French court finds far-right leader Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds. Also on the programme: we’re joined by Hopewell Chin’ono as Zimbabwe’s president faces calls for removal from within his own party. Then: rice and dairy farmers march in downtown Tokyo to demand better income security and we discuss the state of the Brazilian telenovela.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3524	28 Mar 2025 30 min	Earthquake rocks Thailand and Myanmar We get the latest from our Bangkok-based Asia editor, James Chambers, as aftershocks from a huge 7.7 magnitude earthquake continue to rock the Thai capital. Also in the programme: Monocle’s editor in chief, Andrew Tuck, discusses the importance of who owns the media. Plus: a look at the papers in Asia with Tom Webb.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3523	27 Mar 2025 37 min	Trump’s 25 per cent imported-car tariff and Bolsonaro to stand trial We’re joined in the studio by our executive editor, Christopher Lord, to get the latest reactions as Donald Trump announces a new 25 per cent tariff on imported cars and parts. Then: a unanimous vote by the Brazilian Supreme Court ruled that former president Jair Bolsonaro should stand trial over an alleged 2022 coup attempt. Plus: Fernando Augusto Pacheco brings us part two of his IFPI Global Music Report 2025 coverage on ‘The Global Countdown’.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3522	26 Mar 2025 32 min	What message is the US trying to send to Greenland? As US vice president JD Vance announces that he will join his wife’s trip to a US army base in Greenland, we unpack what message this sends to the arctic territory and gauge Denmark’s reaction. Also in the programme: we discuss the role of the Netherlands in Nato as the nation looks to increase its defence spending and we discuss the effects of Kyoto’s new lodging tax. Plus: A look ahead to Salone 2025.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play
3521	25 Mar 2025 36 min	Outrage as the White House accidentally sends war plans to a journalist The world reacts to a major security breach after the White House accidentally shared highly sensitive military plans through a group chat, which included an ‘Atlantic’ journalist. Our security correspondent, Gorana Grgić, brings us the latest. Then: Fiona O’Brien of Reporters Without Borders updates us on the current threats to journalists in Turkey, as anti-Erdogan protests continue. Plus: Chiara Rimella on the latest news in the world of food and drink.	Download Share X Facebook LinkedIn LINE Email	Play

Affairs / Podcast

The Briefing

Latest episode

Latest episodes

Can Donald Trump reach a nuclear deal with Iran?

Istanbul’s mayor expected in court and the UK announces its own version of SNL

France could recognise Palestinian statehood in June

Germany’s government agrees a coalition

Iran and US agree to weekend talks and the soft power of ‘The White Lotus’

Markets react to Trump’s tariffs

A rare show of diplomacy from the chief of Myanmar’s junta and how will Trump’s tariffs affect Northern Ireland?

Hungary withdraws from the ICC, Australia prepares for elections and Switzerland showcases watches

Europe awaits ‘Liberation Day’

Fears of an Israeli constitutional crisis and The Michelin Guide France 2025

Le Pen banned from running for office

Earthquake rocks Thailand and Myanmar

Trump’s 25 per cent imported-car tariff and Bolsonaro to stand trial

What message is the US trying to send to Greenland?

Outrage as the White House accidentally sends war plans to a journalist