The Monocle Daily

Damien van Pijveld, historian of France's DGSE; James Rogers, international journalism and Russia specialist; Tina Fordham, geopolitical strategist for business leaders. They debate Donald Trump’s apocalyptic warnings to Iran and the real risk of catastrophic escalation. They assess Iran’s strategic resilience and military options. They also weigh foreign meddling in Hungary, Russian internet blackouts, and the DGSE’s covert past.

Ash Bardwaj, travel writer and aviation reporter, and Alex von Tunzelman, historian and geopolitical analyst, discuss Iran’s stalled ceasefire talks and shifting regional alliances. They unpack strategic risks around the Strait of Hormuz and changing ties between Syria and Ukraine. They also explore a looming global jet fuel squeeze and how it could reshape travel and rail alternatives.

Emma Nelson, Monocle radio presenter offering sharp European and global analysis, and Hannah Lucinda-Smith, on-the-ground journalist with expertise on Europe’s frontiers, discuss Europe’s refusal to secure the Strait of Hormuz and the strain on alliances. They cover community impacts of aircraft losses, Macron’s public pushback, Syria’s reconstruction prospects, and quirky culture wars from marmalade labelling to pet custody in Brazil.

Stephen Diel, Russia analyst with regional security expertise, and Patty Cohen, NYT global economics correspondent, discuss Putin’s warning to Armenia and how Russia’s war posture shapes threats. They examine Armenia’s limited options, the politics around opposition figures, UNESCO’s role in protecting heritage, and India’s contentious census and caste questions.

Rana Dasgupta, author reflecting on the fate of nation-states; Michael Binion, Times leader writer and commentator; Negar Anger, former US State Department and NSC adviser now at King’s College. They debate China’s bid to mediate the Iran conflict, Pakistan’s leverage, who speaks for Iran’s decision-makers and how US focus shifts affect Ukraine. Short takes on Artemis II and new Japanese cycling rules.

Robin Lustig, veteran international affairs broadcaster, and Caroline Frost, cultural and political commentator, unpack Netanyahu’s ‘halfway’ claim and what it could mean for a timeline to end the conflict. They probe US‑Europe rifts over strategy and the UK’s role, weigh Russia’s tightening internet controls and social pressures, and even debate Eurovision’s expansion into Asia.

James Rogers, international journalism professor and author, and Eliana Hrivko, foreign policy CEO and Ukraine expert, discuss Russia's tanker docking in Cuba and a surprising US policy shift. They explore Ukraine pitching defence know-how to Gulf states and the strategic gains from those ties. They also examine Viktor Orbán's troubled campaign and how satire navigates serious political crises.

Quentin Peel, journalist and Monocle contributor, offers commentary on trade and geopolitics. Bertu Urschelich, RUSI Middle East security specialist, analyses Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and regional diplomacy. They discuss Iran’s closure claim on the strait and its toll-booth tactics. They debate pipelines as alternatives, risks of escalation and implications for global trade and WTO politics.

Vincent McIverney, Monocle radio commentator on UK politics, and Marta Lorimer, Cardiff politics lecturer specializing in populism, discuss Trump's criticism of NATO and Mark Rutte's response. They debate Europe’s shifting stance on migration and far-right influence. They also cover AI humanoids at the White House and the growing London Marathon.

Sir William Patey, a seasoned former British ambassador with deep Middle East expertise, and Nina Dos Santos, an experienced international broadcaster turned communications analyst, discuss Iraq's rare double-summoning of US and Iranian envoys. They cover proxy activity and civilian harm, oil export disruptions and economic fallout, Kurdish limits on retaliation, and wider geopolitical moves by Hungary, Taiwan and changing holiday habits.