The Briefing

Episoder

• Culture wraps, Konfekt’s new travel special and the Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival 05.06.2026 30min

  Hezbollah rejects a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Then: a look at Konfekt’s summer issue with Sophie Grove and a pop-up bookshop by Thames & Hudson at London’s Mount Street Neighbourhood Summer Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Why did Germany fail to secure a seat on the UN Security Council?  04.06.2026 31min

  We discuss Berlin’s failure to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. Then: are the world’s worst displacement crises under-reported? Plus: ‘The Global Countdown’ kicks off its World Cup special.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Serpentine Pavilion by Lanza Atelier opens in London 03.06.2026 30min

  Nic Monisse takes a look at London’s Serpentine Pavilion ahead of opening on Saturday. Plus: Anita Riotta brings us the results of primaries across the US and we wrap the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa with Andrew Mueller.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• What’s next in Colombia’s presidential runoff between the left and the far right 02.06.2026 45min

  We consider what Colombia’s polarising election could mean for Latin America’s third-largest economy. Plus: we meet Ari and Ethan Gold, the twins behind one-shot musical film ‘Brother Verses Brother’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Why Poland’s leaders continue to jockey for power 01.06.2026 28min

  We examine the prospects for Poland’s ruling coalition ahead of the 2027 parliamentary election. Plus: we head to Paris to speak with Laetitia and Arthur Cohen, owners of the best Franco-Japanese restaurants in town.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Ukraine’s boosted confidence on display at the Odesa Black Sea Security Forum 29.05.2026 29min

  Contributing editor Andrew Mueller joins from the Black Sea Security Forum in Odesa, Ukraine. Plus: a painting of Sue Tilley, one of Lucien Freud’s main muses, is set to go under the hammer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Bolstering UAE defence and Monocle’s coffee special 28.05.2026 29min

  We get the latest from Iran, go behind the scenes with UAE defence manufacturer Edge Group and talk all things coffee with a special feature in Monocle’s June magazine, out today. Plus: The Global Countdown from Namibia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Israel’s offensive against Lebanon intensifies 27.05.2026 32min

  As the US and Iran battle on with strained efforts to find peace, we assess the implications for Israel as its offensive against Lebanon intensifies. Plus: we discuss opera and AI with the Royal Opera’s Netia Jones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Iran warns that the US will no longer have a safe haven in the region 26.05.2026 19min

  As Tehran and Washington discuss a framework to end their three-month war, Iran’s supreme leader warns that Gulf powers will no longer be a shield for the US and its bases. Plus: Why guilty consumption is taking off in Japan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Pope Leo has views on AI: will Silicon Valley listen? 25.05.2026 30min

  Pope Leo XIV is giving his first ecumenical today on the topic of artificial intelligence, the first official word from the Catholic Church on the topic. Anthropic CEO Christopher Olah is in attendance but will anyone in Silicon Valley truly pay attention to the Church’s teachings?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Hungary’s constitutional reform and prime minister Péter Magyar’s first weeks 22.05.2026 34min

  Hungarian prime minister Péter Magyar wants to limit the terms of his office to eight years – preventing his predecessor from returning. We’ll discuss the constitutional reforms and how Magyar is doing in his first weeks in office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Will Donald Trump’s Republican party purges cost him in the midterms? 21.05.2026 33min

  We discuss Trump’s punishment of disloyal Republicans in the primary elections. Separately, his IRS settlement could permanently block him and his family from tax audits. What will his base make of these moves?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Nato under strain as members seek clarity on US plans to withdraw troops 20.05.2026 33min

  We look ahead to the Nato foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden as questions over a US drawdown remain. What will the American push for ‘greater burden sharing’ look like and who will plug the gaps?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Vladimir Putin heads to Beijing for talks with his Chinese counterpart 19.05.2026 31min

  As Moscow recovers from huge Ukrainian strikes, Russia’s president prepares to meet Xi Jinping. Then: how one European development bank is expanding operations. Plus: Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen at her new retrospective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The political controversy engulfing Cannes film festival 18.05.2026 29min

  Hundreds of actors have been blacklisted for protesting Vincent Bolloré’s political influence over Canal+. Then: how a shadow network across Europe is helping Russia to evade sanctions. Plus: Monocle on Eurovision 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Is Russia looking to end the war or escalate it? 15.05.2026 26min

  We explore how Europe is responding to Russia’s latest large-scale attack on Ukraine. Then: what will the world look like after the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is over? Plus: South African music lands in Kyoto. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• On stage for Emmanuel Macron’s viral moment in Kenya 14.05.2026 34min

  We speak with Marie Lora-Mungai, who was on stage in Nairobi when French president Emmanuel Macron implored the audience to show respect, about the viral moment and the future of Africa’s creative industries. Plus: the latest from the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing and a Eurovision-themed ‘The Global Countdown’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Ukraine-Russia ceasefire ends but Kyiv’s renewed confidence continues 13.05.2026 30min

  Ukraine pushes for an airport ceasefire after its three-day truce with Russia comes to an end. Plus: Katharine Hayhoe on how climate scientists maintain their optimism in the face of the Trump administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Is it all over for Keir Starmer? The cabinet faces questions 12.05.2026 34min

  Cabinet members are asked to pledge support for embattled UK prime minister Keir Starmer. Plus: redistricting battles heat up in the US, Thaksin Shinawatra is released from prison and Sweden’s Eurovision entry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Trump rejects Iran’s peace proposal 11.05.2026 29min

  An end to the Iran war looks unlikely as Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu refuse to entertain Tehran’s demands. Then: a taste of Corsican food in Paris. Plus: the case for Australia Fashion Week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.