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The Foreign Desk

Monocle
Ukraine
Donald Trump
Russia
United States
NATO
Iran
Israel
European Union
China
Syria
Hezbollah
Hamas
Bashar Al-Assad
Turkey
Gaza
Lebanon
Middle East
Immigration
Australia
Venezuela

​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.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes103Founded12 years ago
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PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

The rapid rise of prediction markets is prompting questions about their influence on politics, military operations and the way we consume news. We discuss with guests including PredictIt founder John Aristotle Phillips.

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Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has pardoned 15 Senegalese football fans ahead of the World Cup. But what happened at the Africa Cup of Nations final to trigger their arrest?

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Cubans are facing a nightmarish humanitarian crisis – and Washington is piling on the pressure. US secretary of state Marco Rubio has long dreamed of regime change on the island. But will it happen? We head to Havana for the picture on the ground.

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The feud between the Philippines’ most powerful political dynasties continues. This week, vice-president Sara Duterte was impeached. Andrew Mueller unpacks the latest turn in the country’s ongoing political saga.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Liz Oliver Fernandez
Havana-based journalist and filmmaker for Belly of the Beast
Belly of the Beast (Cuba)
Episode: The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?
Patrick Oppmann
CNN Havana Bureau Chief
CNN
Episode: The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?
Alex von Tunzelmann
Historian, screenwriter, author of Red Heat, Conspiracy, Murder, and the Cold War in the Caribbean
Author/Historian
Episode: The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?
William Leo Grand
Professor of Government, American University in Washington, DC; author
American University, Washington, DC
Episode: The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?
Mark Carney
Prime Minister (per transcript) who spoke at Davos; former governor, Bank of Canada
Canada
Episode: The rise of the middle powers
Angela Skoujian
EU correspondent for Euronews
Euronews
Episode: The rise of the middle powers
Stephen Borowicz
Staff writer at Nikkei Asia
Nikkei Asia
Episode: The rise of the middle powers
Olga Tikariuk
Ukrainian journalist, Chatham House Academy associate
Chatham House
Episode: The rise of the middle powers
Thanos Dokos
National Security Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (since 2020)
Greek government
Episode: Live from Delphi: Can Europe remake itself into a superpower?

Host

Andrew Mueller
Host of The Foreign Desk; Monocle's flagship global-affairs show; known for witty, incisive interview style and broad international coverage

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 867 ratings
  • Weekly dose of reality

    Excellent listen, every week, pretty much without fail. Feels like an oasis of calm, reasoned analysis in a very uncertain world...

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    big paddy la
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Excellent satire

    Andrew is natural.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andrewb1001
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • What does Latina Burke say?

    Nothing sensible. She’s a fascist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BradyDaSilveira
    Australia5 months ago
  • Intersting but not exactly unbiased

    A very interesting approach and informative .But some of the language used didn’t seem unbiased .Is this meant to be his Personal opinion with no attempt at a non biased journalistic Approach?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • It’s my go-to

    Very much enjoy the foreign desk, it’s my go to for long journeys in the car, of which there are many. Top level guests, a refreshing and enlightened slant with just the perfect dash of charisma. Love it. Thanks guys keep it up x

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJHumphries
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Varied guest slate keeps discussions fresh and credible.
High-caliber guests and rigorous analysis are a strength.
Balanced insights with witty host narration.
Reliable go-to for international affairs coverage.
Thoughtful, deep dives with heavyweight guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#120
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#153
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#98
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#129
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#183
Indonesia/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#11
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Cuban man-made crisis: will the US’s maximum-pressure campaign topple Havana’s government?
Q: What's it actually like trying to report out of Cuba at the moment, especially for a broadcast medium?
The answer emphasizes frequent power outages, limited access to electricity, and reliance on generators, which makes consistent reporting challenging but possible with on-site logistics like portable power and satellite feeds.
The rise of the middle powers
Q: What defines the current era for middle powers and what can smaller states learn from Ukraine?
The episode suggests that middle powers can gain agency by diversifying partnerships, leveraging regional blocs, and fostering robust civil society and institutions to sustain resilience even when support from great powers wanes.
Live from Delphi: Can Europe remake itself into a superpower?
Q: What reform would most speed up EU decision-making?
Paolo Gentiloni suggests merging the presidency of the Commission and the European Council and limiting veto power on existential issues to expedite decisions.
Live from Delphi: Can Europe remake itself into a superpower?
Q: Can Europe turn its two big adversaries into an advantage through more agile, coalition-based governance?
Ulrik Vestergaard-Nudsen argues yes, with more coalitions of the willing and reform of EU governance to enable faster, more flexible responses while preserving the rule of law.
Live from Delphi: Can Europe remake itself into a superpower?
Q: Is there any noticeable disadvantage to Germany's alignment with Trump-era policies?
Anja Veleshchuk explains that domestically there is pressure and the government faced criticism, but it has also maintained a principled stance rooted in international law and a desire to protect European cohesion.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Foreign Desk

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

A high-level global affairs show that blends sharp political analysis with interviews from senior policymakers, journalists, and regional experts. Episodes frequently tackle geopolitical flashpoints, alliance dynamics, security strategy, and energy/policy implications, often featuring live reporting and in-depth conversations with high-profile guests. Noteworthy is the mix of heavyweight policy insight, on-the-ground reporting, and a distinctive, wry host voice that helps translate complex issues for a broad audience. The format includes longer deep-dives and shorter explainers, making it useful for listeners who want both contextual background and current-state analysis across international affairs.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Foreign Desk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Foreign Desk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Foreign Desk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Foreign Desk get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Foreign Desk have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Foreign Desk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Foreign Desk:

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

How many episodes of The Foreign Desk are there?

The Foreign Desk launched 12 years ago and published 103 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 Foreign Desk?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Foreign Desk?

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What guests have appeared on The Foreign Desk?

Recent guests on The Foreign Desk include:

1. Liz Oliver Fernandez
2. Patrick Oppmann
3. Alex von Tunzelmann
4. William Leo Grand
5. Mark Carney
6. Angela Skoujian
7. Stephen Borowicz
8. Olga Tikariuk

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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