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PODCAST

The Foreign Desk

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.

news politics

All Episodes

36:05

What is Rwanda doing in the Democratic Republic of...

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/02/01

The idea of Rwanda invading the Democratic Republic of Congo looks, on paper, preposterous. However, as an alliance of rebel groups seized Goma, the biggest city in the DRC’s east, we ask: what is the plan? Fred Bauma joins Andew Mueller with the latest from Kinshasa. Then: Jason Stearns and Michela Wrong tell us about the history behind this conflict and consider the view from Rwanda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

7:09

Explainer 452: Trump’s Greenland grab

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/29

Why is US president Donald Trump eyeing up Greenland? And if it’s not for sale, would he take it by force? Andrew Mueller explains the likelihood of an old-school territorial conquest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

34:09

Can the Israel-Hamas ceasefire become lasting peace?

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/25

Relative calm has descended over Gaza after 15 months of war. A ceasefire agreement has been enacted but what happens next is unclear. Nada AlTaher, Esther Solomon and Aaron David Miller join Andrew Mueller to discuss how Palestinians would like to move forward, the domestic political tensions in Israel and whether real peace is on the table.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

7:22

Explainer 451: The veteran rebels behind Colombia’s...

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/22

At least 100 people were killed this week during renewed fighting in Colombia’s northeast. Who is involved? And what are they fighting over? Andrew Mueller explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

36:06

Mr Trump goes to Washington: the sequel

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/17

Donald J Trump will head to the National Mall in Washington on Monday for his second inauguration. When he takes the oath of office, Trump will become the second man to serve non-consecutive terms as president and the first convicted criminal to inhabit the White House. Tom Nichols, Nathalie Tocci and Alex von Tunzelmann join Andrew Mueller to consider what Trump 2.0 means for the US and the world. Plus: what makes for an inaugural address to remember? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

en-US

6:17

Explainer 450: What is Lebanon’s new government up...

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/15

As Lebanon welcomes a new president and prime minister, Andrew Mueller explains the peculiarities of the country’s 1943 political settlement and why it has proved to be an inhibitor to actual governance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

40:27

The legacies of US presidents

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/11

As US president Joe Biden’s time in office comes to a close, we consider how to assess the legacies of national leaders. What makes a president great? And why do our views change over time? Andrew speaks with the custodians of these legacies – biographers, presidential library directors and historians – to see how these mythologies are created and maintained.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

6:33

Explainer 449: Is China cutting Taiwan’s cables or...

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/08

Andrew Mueller explains how likely it is that China is cutting Taiwan’s undersea cables and what’s in it for them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

35:48

The geopolitical risks of 2025

The Foreign Desk ·

2025/01/04

Andrew Mueller talks to Lithuania’s outgoing foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, and Monocle regulars Latika Bourke, Yossi Mekelberg and Charles Hecker about what to keep an eye on as geopolitical risks rise in 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

34:58

Elections, conflicts and the rise of the right: a...

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/28

More than one billion people headed to the polls, wars turned into regional crises and right-wing parties found new footholds in 2024. Andrew Mueller speaks with electoral expert Tony Banbury, and Monocle regulars Latika Bourke, Charles Hecker and Yossi Mekelberg take stock of the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

42:44

The case for foreign aid

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/21

The holidays are a time of giving but wealthy nations have not been in a generous mood. Andrew Mueller explores the case for foreign aid and how to turn the concept into a win-win for both donor and recipient. With Mark Lowcock, Andrew Mitchell and Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

6:10

Explainer 448: Trudeau in trouble

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/18

Following the scathing resignation letter of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, Andrew Mueller explains why Canada’s prime minister may be about to lose his job and what Trump has in store if he doesn’t.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

47:45

The spectacular fall of the Assad regime

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/14

How did the rebels manage to topple Bashar al-Assad’s regime so quickly? How inclusive will any new government realistically be? Who in the region wins and who loses? Andrew Mueller speaks with Syrian-born writer Rime Allaf, counter-insurgency expert David Kilcullen, Middle East security analyst Burcu Ozcelik and Russia expert Mark Galeotti. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

7:16

Explainer 447: Why is Israel striking Syria?

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/11

As Syrians celebrate Assad’s fall, Israel is striking targets across the country. Andrew Mueller explains why.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

37:25

The case for indigenous political inclusion

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/07

Against strong resistance, indigenous communities are asserting their right to inclusion in the political systems of their respective nations. Andrew Mueller speaks to Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, the illustrator of ‘When the World Was Soft: Yindjibarndi Creation Stories’, Alex Mankiewicz, and a justice of the Shawnee Tribe Supreme Court and law professor, Kristen Carpenter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

7:08

Explainer 446: The South Korean coup that wasn’t

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/12/04

As South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol attempts to undo last night’s shock announcement of martial law, Andrew Mueller explains the real reasons behind the attempted coup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

32:57

Taiwan’s China problem

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/11/30

As Taiwan’s president Lai Ching-te embarks on his first international tour, we explore this delicate moment for an island that China still claims as a rogue province. Will China really try to reclaim Taiwan? And how would the island – and its allies – go about its defence? Andrew Mueller speaks with journalist, William Yang, and defence expert, Arthur Ding, in Taipei, plus filmmaker Venessa Hope in London. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

6:52

Explainer 445: Are Romania’s election candidates...

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/11/27

As we wait to hear if Romania will annul its first round of elections, Andrew Mueller explains why the shocking result should not be that shocking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

32:35

Is Europe ready for war?

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/11/23

This week, households in Sweden received a government pamphlet entitled ‘In Case Of Crisis Or War’, while similar manuals were published across Scandinavia. Some European nations are evidently preparing for war, but are they ready? Andrew Mueller is joined by Monocle’s Gunnar Gronlid to speak with Richard Shirreff, the former Nato Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, former director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations. See omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

6:03

Explainer 444: Why are New Zealand’s Maori protesting?

The Foreign Desk ·

2024/11/20

Andrew Mueller explains the origin of the controversial bill New Zealand’s Maori are protesting against. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

275 results

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