The Foreign Desk

by Monocle
32

​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. 

Recent Episodes
  • Explainer 470: The on-again, off-again US-Iran nuclear talks
    Jun 4, 2025 – 08:16
  • Are journalists safe?
    May 31, 2025 – 36:18
  • Explainer 469: Who are India’s Maoists?
    May 28, 2025 – 06:46
  • Why does Russia still have influence in eastern Europe? 
    May 24, 2025 – 31:55
  • Explainer 468: Tantrum or tactic? Why has Australia’s National Party split from the Liberals?
    May 21, 2025 – 07:39
  • Does the dream of a Kurdish state end with the PKK?
    May 17, 2025 – 32:01
  • Explainer 467: Why does Qatar want to gift Trump a jet? 
    May 14, 2025 – 08:08
  • The Trump factor
    May 10, 2025 – 33:53
  • Explainer 466: What actually happens during a papal  conclave (as far as we know)? 
    May 7, 2025 – 07:29
  • The most extraordinary first 100 days of any US presidency? 
    May 3, 2025 – 40:42
  • Explainer 465: Who is behind the terrorist attack on Kashmir?
    Apr 30, 2025 – 07:45
  • Live from Delphi: What’s brewing in the Eastern Mediterranean?
    Apr 26, 2025 – 27:34
  • Explainer 464: The threats facing Ecuador: real or invented?
    Apr 23, 2025 – 06:30
  • Live from Delphi: has the sun set on the transatlantic relationship?
    Apr 19, 2025 – 34:09
  • Explainer 463: Why is a UK MP facing corruption charges in Bangladesh?
    Apr 16, 2025 – 07:02
  • Live from Delphi: how to respond to Trump’s trade war
    Apr 12, 2025 – 36:32
  • Explainer 462: Is Mali and Algeria’s feud really about drones? 
    Apr 9, 2025 – 07:30
  • Why has Israel gone back to war?
    Apr 5, 2025 – 35:57
  • Explainer 461: Marine Le Pen and the movable feast of far-right law and order
    Apr 2, 2025 – 08:06
  • Is Erdoğan’s crackdown backfiring?
    Mar 29, 2025 – 32:46
  • Explainer 460: Jeffrey Goldberg has exited the war chat
    Mar 26, 2025 – 08:40
  • Syria: Is this going to work?
    Mar 22, 2025 – 38:16
  • Explainer 459: Why has Rwanda severed ties with Belgium? 
    Mar 19, 2025 – 07:23
  • Nato’s frontline: the view from the Baltics
    Mar 15, 2025 – 38:19
  • Explainer 458: Why is Rodrigo Duterte being sent to The Hague?
    Mar 12, 2025 – 09:14
  • Has the US given up?
    Mar 8, 2025 – 37:44
  • Explainer 457: What does Ukraine do now? 
    Mar 5, 2025 – 07:01
  • Russia’s ripple effect
    Mar 1, 2025 – 39:06
  • Explainer 456: What’s halting Germany’s defence? History.
    Feb 26, 2025 – 07:19
  • Very well, alone?
    Feb 22, 2025 – 39:25
  • Explainer 455: Mauritius’s money-laundering prime minister 
    Feb 19, 2025 – 06:54
  • Is Serbia OK?
    Feb 15, 2025 – 38:38
  • Explainer 454: New Zealand’s beef with its neighbours
    Feb 12, 2025 – 06:02
  • How to win a trade war
    Feb 8, 2025 – 30:40
  • Explainer 453: Does China really control the Panama Canal? 
    Feb 5, 2025 – 07:49
  • What is Rwanda doing in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
    Feb 1, 2025 – 36:05
  • Explainer 452: Trump’s Greenland grab
    Jan 29, 2025 – 07:09
  • Can the Israel-Hamas ceasefire become lasting peace?
    Jan 25, 2025 – 34:09
  • Explainer 451: The veteran rebels behind Colombia’s violent turf war
    Jan 22, 2025 – 07:22
  • Mr Trump goes to Washington: the sequel  
    Jan 17, 2025 – 36:06
  • Explainer 450: What is Lebanon’s new government up against? Spoiler: itself
    Jan 15, 2025 – 06:17
  • The legacies of US presidents
    Jan 11, 2025 – 40:27
  • Explainer 449: Is China cutting Taiwan’s cables or are their wires crossed?
    Jan 8, 2025 – 06:33
  • The geopolitical risks of 2025
    Jan 4, 2025 – 35:48
  • Elections, conflicts and the rise of the right: a look at 2024
    Dec 28, 2024 – 34:58
  • The case for foreign aid
    Dec 21, 2024 – 42:44
  • Explainer 448: Trudeau in trouble
    Dec 18, 2024 – 06:10
  • The spectacular fall of the Assad regime
    Dec 14, 2024 – 47:45
  • Explainer 447: Why is Israel striking Syria?
    Dec 11, 2024 – 07:16
  • The case for indigenous political inclusion
    Dec 7, 2024 – 31:02
Recent Reviews
  • Dean Mack
    Unserious Propoganda
    A mouthpiece for Israel, complete waste of time. Silly overview of a 100% successful attack by Iran against Israel, this propagandistic spin helps no one but extremist pro-Israeli radicals.
  • advanced yet basic errors
    Absolutely excellent
    I find this show quite delightful. Andrew manages to humorously weave narratives while also seriously interviewing heads of state and other important people. I think he brings out a lot of the details and nuances that bring important contemporary world events to life. Was turned on to it by Decoding the Gurus pod and has become a favorite of mine
  • lizzie2476
    Discover something new or review what you know behind the scenes
    My favorites female journalist Clarissa Ward recommended this podcast and I definitely give it 5/5 stars! Andrew Mueller’s voice just lends itself perfectly to an audio newscast and the script has some witty and often hilarious lines that help to break the ice on even the toughest issues without rendering them to be unimportant. I’ve learned a lot more about global topics with his front and centre and behind the scenes interviews and I really hope this will continue for more seasons.
  • nubs.
    What was once ‘the source’ has become typical liberal-bias
    This is so sad because Andrew Mueller has been a true hero of mine, both as a journalist and commentator, for many years. But enough is enough with the way this has become so bias … look no further than the way they cover Biden as a hero versus the way they covered Trump as the world’s villain. It is obvious to any intelligent centered person. Also I have a huge problem with that he has people on there to speak for the United States they only speak for one side — just listen to the pundit on the ‘Year in Review’ episode, who is a joke. The villain of 2021 is “the Republican Party”? Seriously? It just seems to be typical to what happens to any credible media outlet in this day and age. Really unfortunate … Mueller was truly one of the last journalism greats standing. I am unsubscribing today.
  • Sarita7981
    Weekly explainer is hilarious ..
    ..And Informative too. Keep it up. Some of the other items are a bit dry but I tune in just to listen to the Explainer. I like the sound effects too Thanks for making my week.
  • Alexy Dub
    Asking the Right Questions
    Asks why people and states do what they do from their perspective instead of our own. Seems so simple but so rare in journalism today, but is the key to understanding why so many conflicts and disputes are intractable until those internal constituencies are worn out or change their expectations. Just a deeper grasp on the forces that are shaping our lives. Excellent.
  • sciencepyar
    I love Monocle
    I’ve been listening to podcasts for the past 5 years, I unfortunately only discovered Monocle 1 year ago. Foreign desk is awesome
  • sjsodmeoa
    New sponsorship
    Genuine question: how do you plan to maintain your integrity independence and credibility, while receiving sponsorship from Japanese government?
  • Generic Nickname #24601
    Left-Wing Sneering and Snark
    Don’t expect insight: The Monocle Mutual Appreciation Society consists entirely of avowed zealots of intersectional identity politics, economic redistribution, and massive bureaucratic institutions who praise one another’s astuteness as preening host Andrew Miller heaps on self-satisfied Louis XIV-style ridicule at conservative politicians. This podcast is nothing more than the sarcastic, nasty Left indulging is their basest impulses and calling it “dialogue.”
  • DaniloED
    More of this, please!
    Informative, concise, and topical. Highly recommended!
  • CatNT
    Thought-provoking
    This podcast engages in discussion on highly relevant but often skipped over issues with a panel of experts. Incredibly refreshing to get access to educated debate without sensationalism. RECOMMENDED!
  • SimTower Alumni
    Great Radio Programming - Monocle 24
    This 4-5 min and 30 min in-depther episode podcast and Monocle 24 featured series makes my life better. It gives insight into weekly topics and has trustful voices of the topic in interview, as well as a suberb speaking voice and editorial team. Thanks for making the world a better place from London.
  • Tmcalli
    Better heads prevail
    The Foreign Desk hits above its weight. I'm tired of the quasi-analysis and sensational crap elsewhere. Steve gets its, and has the finesse of a true newsman. He doesn't tell us what to think. He tells us what to think about.
  • DavefromDenver
    Great resource
    Tyler! Great idea to broadcast "The Foreign Desk." Love the in-depth coverage of the issues.
  • Revans50
    In Depth European News
    Since we here in the US rarely get European news this is very welcome. Well done.
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