The Monocle Daily

Katja Hoyer, author who explores the Weimar Republic through a local lens. Bill Hayton, Asia expert from Chatham House on China and regional security. Rachel Cunliffe, New Statesman political analyst on UK politics. They discuss Starmer’s party dynamics and potential successors. They unpack Trump’s return to Beijing, risks around Taiwan and trade. They also cover defence culture and how ordinary choices shape history.

Julie Norman, UCL politics scholar turning her Gaza book into a verbatim play. James Rogers, international journalism analyst with frontline reporting experience. Daniela Pellet, managing editor expert in conflict reporting. They discuss Qatar's Gulf diplomacy and Iran's demands over the Strait of Hormuz. They examine regional military risks, implications for shipping and oil, plus tensions in Ukraine and the oddities of UFO reporting.

John Robb, musician and author of Punk Rock Ruined My Life, reflects on punk’s DIY spirit. Phil Tinline, journalist and documentary maker, probes geopolitics and satire. Terry Stiasny, political journalist and author, examines disinformation and European and UK politics. They debate Schröder’s mediator suitability, satire versus conspiracy, AI influencers, and punk’s cultural impact.

Jenny Mathers, senior lecturer in international politics, breaks down the pared-back Victory Day parade and what it signals about Russia’s war capacity and domestic politics. Sophie Monaghan-Coombs, culture editor reporting from Venice, recounts protests, pavilion controversies and standout installations. Short, sharp conversations on geopolitics, art-world spectacle and the tense atmosphere on the ground.

Julie Norman, a UCL politics lecturer specializing in Middle East affairs, and Yossi Meckelberg, a Chatham House security analyst, dissect Israel's strike on Beirut and the fragile ceasefire. They debate legality, whether strikes test US resolve, Lebanon's leverage over Hezbollah, and wider regional implications including Syria and diplomatic manoeuvres.

Fionnuala Sweeney, former CNN anchor, recalls Ted Turner and the birth of 24-hour TV news. Quentin Peel, seasoned international affairs journalist, and Armida van Rij, European security specialist, assess Friedrich Merz one year into chancellorship. They debate continuous news impacts, Merz’s domestic and foreign policy challenges, Kremlin signals and Europe’s shifting security burdens.

Somnath Batabyal, a SOAS lecturer who offers South Asia on-the-ground analysis, and Isabel Hilton, founder of China Dialogue and China/energy analyst, discuss drone-led asymmetric warfare from the Strait of Hormuz to Ukraine and Lebanon. They explore supply shocks, how low-cost drones unsettle larger militaries, regional economic fragilities, and why major powers are reshuffling their military leadership.

Joe Luke Barnes, travel writer who crossed the 15 former Soviet republics, reflects on visa hurdles and local colour. Robin Lustig, veteran broadcaster, offers sharp commentary on geopolitics. Alex von Tunzelmann, historian and author, supplies historical perspective. They debate US troop reductions in Germany, risks for European deterrence, Mark Carney at a European summit, AI courtroom drama and a quirky revival of cormorant fishing.

A playful news quiz on the week’s headlines sets a lively tone. A deep-dive into King Charles’s Washington visit covers wardrobe, symbolism and the speech’s Magna Carta nods. Musicians Corb Lund and Hayes Carll share how a poker game sparked a touring partnership and perform a co-written song live.

Michael Binion, foreign affairs journalist with a focus on conflicts and defence, and Evdoxia Limperi, UK correspondent covering Greece and regional NATO issues, discuss the 90-minute Trump–Putin call and its political theatre. They examine tensions over drones and a stalled Greece–Ukraine arms deal. The conversation also explores proposals to end online anonymity and practical risks of ID rules.