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The Briefing

Monocle
Donald Trump
Iran
Ukraine
United States
Lebanon
Russia
European Union
Israel
Gaza
China
Venezuela
Greenland
Japan
Germany
NATO
France
Taiwan
Yemen
Saudi Arabia
World Economic Forum

A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by a Monocle editor. The show features informed reporting, prescient business analysis and invaluable industry reports covering everything from technology to aviation and retail to media.

PublishesDailyEpisodes134Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsDaily NewsNews

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Artwork for The Briefing

Latest Episodes

As world leaders descend on New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, we discuss the gathering’s relevance. Then: Fresh election setbacks for the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz. And: What do city monuments mean to us?

See omnystudio.com/listene... more

Brazilians prepare to head to the polls as the presidential race narrows. Then: we look ahead to Fine Arts Paris and head to the Toronto Film Festival. And: we hear about the late architect César Pelli’s final project.

See omnystudio.com/listener fo... more

We hear from the CEO of the British Fashion Council as London Fashion Week begins. Then: we meet the team behind the One London project. And: Fernando Augusto Pacheco brings us his Slovak “Global Countdown”.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i... more

Canada is set to become the EU’s first associate member. Then: we look at the crackdown against the LGBTQ+ community in Turkey. Plus: we head to the Arab Media Summit and look inside the new issue of Konfekt.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... more

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Recent Guests

Brooke Theis
Associate Editor at Konfekt
Konfekt
Episode: Are markets recognising a renewed threat to global energy supplies?
Pippa Norman
Defense and Business Correspondent for Toronto's Globe and Mail
Globe and Mail
Episode: Does the future of the transatlantic relationship lie with Poland and Canada?
Daniel Lausen
Head of Global Public Policy at CAE
CAE
Episode: Does the future of the transatlantic relationship lie with Poland and Canada?
Colin Mortimer
Director of the Center for New Liberalism
Center for New Liberalism
Episode: Does the future of the transatlantic relationship lie with Poland and Canada?
Herminia Ibarra
Charles Handy Professor of Organizational Behaviour at London Business School
London Business School
Episode: Does the future of the transatlantic relationship lie with Poland and Canada?
Alex von Tunzelmann
Historian, author, and screenwriter
Episode: How to preserve a political legacy: the view from ‘Trumpapalooza’ and Macron’s twilight years
Florian Eder
Editor of Neue Zürcher Zeitung in Germany
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Episode: Germany’s far-right wins big: The view from the Bundestag and Brussels
Chris Czermak
Senior News Editor
The Briefing / Monocle
Episode: Germany’s far-right wins big: The view from the Bundestag and Brussels
Joanna Lepore
Futurist and Strategist
Independent/Foreshadowing insights from Lisbon conference
Episode: Germany’s far-right wins big: The view from the Bundestag and Brussels

Hosts

Thomas Waterhouse
Host of The Briefing, Monocle Radio/Monocle
Chris Churmack
Host of The Briefing, Monocle Radio/Monocle
Andrew Tuck
Monocle Editor-in-Chief
Julia Jen
Monocle writer; editor and researcher
Tom Webb
News presenter

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 496 ratings
  • Great show, corny music countdown

    I love this show — a unique survey across many topics, just like Monocle. As much as I also love Fernando Augusto Pacheco, the global countdown features some of the corniest, least interesting music on earth. It can be fun and interesting occasionally but most of the time it’s full of poorly recycled pop (of late it’s been local takes on the “reggaeton beat + robot vocal” thing that every country now has their own version of). Can we do better on the music, guys?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    ryan_ryan
    United States3 months ago
  • Excellent

    Excellent reporting and journalism. Enjoy the hosts sense of humor. I am a big fan of everything Monocle !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PepoPepa69
    United Statesa year ago
  • What BBC radio 4 should be

    Monocle entertains, educates and provides inspiration in a Reithian mix of content. Something that Lord Reith’s own BBC now fails to do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Our boy Ged
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Smug and Boring

    Yawn

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    lolololol 12334
    United States2 years ago
  • Disappointed

    I have adored Monocle for years, however I have found its neutral, almost pro-Zionist coverage of the genocide in Gaza incredibly disappointing. I listen to The Briefing every morning and feel frustrated most days. I thought Monocle stood for more and wanted to see the world a better place.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Clickalick
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Great for listeners who want world events explained with real-world context and color.
Some listeners feel occasional bias; overall high-quality journalism with a broad range of guests.
Consistently offers field reporting and timely analysis across politics, economy, and culture.
Polished production and insightful guest questioning keep complex topics accessible.
Engaging, well-researched daily briefings with strong global perspective.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#126
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#80
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#212
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#29
Philippines/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#37
Denmark/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#39
South Korea/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are markets recognising a renewed threat to global energy supplies?
Q: How significant is it that we have yet another record price for diesel in the US?
The guest explains that eight months of Middle East conflict have disrupted flows across multiple fuels, not just crude, and that shrinking buffers and seasonal demand imply higher prices will persist into winter.
How to preserve a political legacy: the view from ‘Trumpapalooza’ and Macron’s twilight years
Q: How has the Republican Party's identity shifted in the era of Trump according to the guests?
They describe a move toward populism and nationalism, with traditional conservative economics taking a back seat as the party recalibrates around Trump-era messaging and its own internal power dynamics.
How to preserve a political legacy: the view from ‘Trumpapalooza’ and Macron’s twilight years
Q: What is the strategic aim of having Trump speak on both nights of the convention?
The aim is to amplify his cult of personality and secure a sense of ongoing leadership, while positioning him as the central figure shaping the party's direction regardless of polls.
Rubio in South America: celebrating the region’s rightward shift and eyeing 2028
Q: How much is Rubio crediting his strategy in Venezuela for his broader political appeal?
Analysts describe Rubio as a loyalist to Trump's foreign policy approach, suggesting his regional actions could boost his profile for 2028 without necessarily indicating a formal campaign yet.
The death of Norway’s King Harald V and the enduring soft power of monarchy
Q: What did the crisis reveal about planning for a target-rich environment around critical civilian infrastructure?
Griffiths notes that the crisis showed civilian targets can be under threat, requiring rapid alerting, secure actions to protect people, and a streamlined, trusted chain of command to return to normal as quickly as possible.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Briefing

What is The Briefing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-paced daily roundup focused on global politics, economics, and culture, with on-the-ground reporting and expert commentary. Episodes often weave geopolitical risk, energy markets, and policy shifts into a single narrative, interspersed with cultural segments, design and fashion beats, and occasional sports/cultural countdowns. Notable strengths include a rotating slate of high-profile guests and on-location reporting from major cities, plus a consistent emphasis on how policy moves ripple through markets, diplomacy, and daily life. This makes it a strong fit for listeners who want concise, informed briefings with both hard analysis and color from the field.

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How many listeners does The Briefing get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Briefing have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Briefing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Briefing:

1. The Monocle Daily
2. The Globalist
3. The Foreign Desk
4. Monocle on Sunday
5. The Urbanist

How many episodes of The Briefing are there?

The Briefing launched 15 years ago and published 134 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Briefing?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Briefing?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Briefing from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Briefing?

Recent guests on The Briefing include:

1. Brooke Theis
2. Pippa Norman
3. Daniel Lausen
4. Colin Mortimer
5. Herminia Ibarra
6. Alex von Tunzelmann
7. Florian Eder
8. Chris Czermak

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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