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The Foreign Desk
Monocle’s global-affairs show with Andrew Mueller. Expert guests, in-depth analysis, and sharp commentary on major geopolitical issues.
Latest Episodes
The Tigray crisis: how did we get here?
Ethiopia’s government has declared a state of emergency as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front gains ground in Addis Ababa. Andrew Mueller explains how we got here.
Fiona Hill
Andrew Mueller sits down with Fiona Hill, former White House aide and senior director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council, to discuss her memoir, working for the White House and how she prepared for her testimony at the impeachment hearing of Donald Trump.
Explainer 289: Nordic Council of Ministers series, part seven – Communicating the climate emergency
With COP26 approaching, communicating the reality of climate change is clearly important but it’s a notoriously tricky message to get across. As recent protests in the UK and elsewhere have shown, it’s easy to alienate the public, which risks climate fatigue setting in. People shut down if the picture is…
Thomas Sankara and pan-Africanism
A landmark trial is taking place in Burkina Faso over the assassination, 34 years ago, of Thomas Sankara, the country’s then-president. Today, Sankara remains something of an icon for his interpretation of the philosophy of pan-Africanism. Who was Thomas Sankara? What did he stand for? And what does pan-Africanism mean…
Explainer 288: Trying to Trump the legal system
Earlier this month, Joe Biden allowed the US National Archives to grant access to the first batch of documents requested by the House Committee investigating January’s Capitol riots. Donald Trump has responded with a lawsuit to suppress these documents, citing executive privilege. Andrew Mueller explains what success this might have…
Muqtada al-Sadr and the future of Iraq
Last week Iraq held a parliamentary election several months early, with Shia cleric and militia commander Muqtada al-Sadr emerging as the winner. What kind of Iraq does al-Sadr want? Andrew Mueller is joined by Sofia Nitti, Jane Arraf and Renad Mansour.
Explainer 287: Nordic Council of Ministers series, part six – Sustainable food choices
Many of us want to make more sustainable choices when we shop for food but Nordic governments are going a step further and integrating climate issues into their official dietary suggestions. As the region awaits the new, updated Nordic Nutrition Recommendations next year, drawn up by the Nordic Council of…
Nearly 10 years of ‘The Foreign Desk’
In this special edition of ‘The Foreign Desk’, Andrew Mueller and the team look back at some highlights of the show’s contribution to Monocle 24’s first decade.
Explainer 286: A curveball for Cuba
At least nine Cuban baseball players have defected during a tournament in Mexico. Andrew Mueller reflects on history’s most notable examples.
Coalition politics: the highs and lows
Germany faces months of tough negotiations to form a coalition government following the country’s federal election on Sunday. As the intense process of horse-trading and manifesto-trimming gets underway, we examine the strengths and weaknesses of coalition-building. When are coalitions effective? What are the secrets to making one work? And what’s…
