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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
Explainer 249: The future of migrant caravans
A migrant caravan travelling from Central America to the US has been halted by military personnel in Guatemala, prompting speculation about the success of future migrations under the Biden administration. Andrew Mueller explains.
Vacci-nations
As coronavirus vaccine programmes begin rolling out around the world, we explore a nation’s duties, interests and opportunities to do it quickly and efficiently. What is a government’s duty towards its citizens – and, in a global crisis, to the world? Who should get it first? And how might vaccines…
Explainer 248: Qatar: the end of the Gulf’s grudge match
After years of being ostracised by its fellow Arab countries, Qatar has rapidly been welcomed back into the fold. Andrew Mueller explains the reasons behind this sudden change of heart.
The Foreign Desk Live: where do Trump’s supporters go now?
In this special live edition of ‘The Foreign Desk’ Andrew Mueller is joined by Suzanne Lynch, Cynthia Miller-Idriss and Jeffrey Howard to discuss the aftermath of the siege of the US Capitol building. Who were the groups behind the insurrection, where does the movement go in a post-Trump era and…
Explainer 247: The fight for the Central African Republic
CAR president Faustin-Archange Touadéra has been re-elected for another term. However widespread violence from militias purportedly under the direction of former president François Bozizé look set to undermine his premiership. Andrew Mueller explains.
2021: Back to normal… or is it?
We look ahead to 2021. Even after Joe Biden becomes president and a vaccine has been rolled out, will things go back to what we thought of as normal or has the definition of normal changed? What will post-pandemic life look like? Is Trumpism here to stay? Has Black Lives…
2020: The year in review
It hasn’t been an easy 12 months to keep up with, but ‘The Foreign Desk’ has done its best. We pick out our highlights in an attempt to make sense of the 21st century’s weirdest year yet.
Ami Ayalon on the two-state solution
The retired admiral and former director of Israel’s Shin Bet security service talks about his book ‘Friendly Fire: How Israel Became its Own Worst Enemy’. It is a memoir criticising Israel’s counterterrorism policies and arguing for a two-state solution in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. He argues that it is not…
Explainer 246: How does the electoral college work?
Joe Biden was officially voted in as president-elect this week. Andrew Mueller explains what the electoral college is, why it matters, and what the recent vote means for president Donald Trump
Australia vs. China: a cautionary tale?
Tensions between Australia and China have noticeably worsened this year. Andrew Mueller asks Beijing-based journalist Sophia Yan what lies behind the ongoing spat – and former Australian prime minister and China specialist Kevin Rudd offers suggestions for how to fix the relationship.
