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The Foreign Desk

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

​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 weeklyEpisodes103Founded13 years ago
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Latest Episodes

As the US retreats from Nato’s “all for one, one for all” clause, Europe is forging new defence ties. Can the West hold together without Washington? Estonia’s defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, joins the debate.

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With Moldova vulnerable to Russian pressure and EU membership still years away, could reunification with Romania offer a shortcut to greater security? Andrew Mueller explains.

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The Democrats’ centrist and progressive wings have each claimed victories in the primary cycle. Is the Democratic Party on the verge of re-assembling its circular firing squad? And who will win in November?

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Russia’s Supreme Court has barred the country’s only anti-war party from standing in parliamentary “elections”. Does the ban reflect an uptick in anti-war support or Putin’s ever-tightening grip on power?

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Recent Guests

Isaac Stanley Becker
Staff writer at The Atlantic and author of Europe Without Borders, A History
The Atlantic
Episode: The Ceuta border crisis: Who’s really threatening Schengen?
Alberto Alemano
Professor in European Union Law at HEC Paris and founder of The Good Lobby
HEC Paris, The Good Lobby
Episode: The Ceuta border crisis: Who’s really threatening Schengen?
Corina Pons
Business Reporter for Reuters Iberia Bureau
Reuters
Episode: The Ceuta border crisis: Who’s really threatening Schengen?
Archon Fung
Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: CTRL + ALT + RIGHT: Has technofascism taken over Silicon Valley?
Adrian Masanari
Associate Professor in the School of Communication, American University; author of Gaming Democracy
American University
Episode: CTRL + ALT + RIGHT: Has technofascism taken over Silicon Valley?
Claire Stapleton
Communications consultant, Google Walkout organizer, author
Former Google employee
Episode: CTRL + ALT + RIGHT: Has technofascism taken over Silicon Valley?
Gil Duran
Journalist and author of The Nerd Reich, Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy
Author
Episode: CTRL + ALT + RIGHT: Has technofascism taken over Silicon Valley?
Matto Mildenberger
Professor of Political Science, University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
Episode: How can we ensure that the politics of heatwaves doesn’t cool off?
Sommini Sengupta
Editor and writer on the New York Times International Desk
The New York Times
Episode: How can we ensure that the politics of heatwaves doesn’t cool off?

Host

Andrew Mueller
Host of The Foreign Desk, with Monocle. Known for dry humor and in-depth international coverage.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 871 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 Kingdom4 months ago
  • Excellent satire

    Andrew is natural.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andrewb1001
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • What does Latina Burke say?

    Nothing sensible. She’s a fascist

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BradyDaSilveira
    Australia7 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 Kingdoma year 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.

Very informative with excellent range of international topics and guests.
The host weaves analysis with interview rigor; a standout in global affairs.
Some listeners feel the coverage shows a bias, but the depth is strong and informative.
Insightful, witty, and well sourced with high-profile guests.
A reliable go-to for deep dives on geopolitics and policy.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#100
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#131
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#98
Australia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#101
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#200
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#13
Philippines/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Ceuta border crisis: Who’s really threatening Schengen?
Q: Alberto, what did you make of how other European countries responded to the crisis we saw in Ceuta?
Alberto argued that the Ceuta incident tested European solidarity and exposed a tendency among some leaders to blame Spain and to challenge unified migration policy, highlighting a lack of quick, cohesive coordination across EU members.
The Ceuta border crisis: Who’s really threatening Schengen?
Q: Corina, let's start with what it was actually like. Can you give us a sense of the situation when you arrived?
Corina described migrants returning to the border, many exhausted and unhappy, with challenges around accommodating, registering, and providing food or water, which contributed to the confusion and the decision by some to turn back.
Does the US still have a free press?
Q: Have presidents historically varied in their relationship with the press, and what examples illustrate this?
Yes. The guests recount presidents like Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan as having relatively cordial relationships that facilitated better coverage, contrasting with Trump's adversarial approach.
Does the US still have a free press?
Q: What was the tone of Trump's discussions with the authors about their book, and how did that shape their reporting?
The authors describe a tense but controlled interview where Trump appeared informal and salesman-like, while fracturing into conflicts on Truth Social beforehand, illustrating how Trump diverges from typical presidential interactions and influences the authors' approach to reporting.
Does the US still have a free press?
Q: Is the United States actually measurably backwards where press freedom is concerned?
Yes, Kirsten McCudden explains that press freedom is measurably weakening across administrations, with more arrests, detentions, and legal challenges, while threats to access and licensing power have grown.

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?

Global affairs discussion with a lean toward deep-dive geopolitics, policy, and international security. Regularly features on-the-ground reporting, high-level policymakers, and seasoned analysts to unpack wars, alliances, and strategic shifts, with a mix of explainer-style segments and longer interviews. Notable strengths include a dry, witty host voice and a track record of high-profile guests, spanning U.S. and European policymakers, regional leaders, and experts on drones, election dynamics, and transatlantic diplomacy. This show often centers on how regional conflicts, great-power competition, and middle-power diplomacy reshape global security and economic policy, making it a strong fit for listeners who want rigorous context and varied... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Foreign Desk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Foreign Desk:

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

How many episodes of The Foreign Desk are there?

The Foreign Desk launched 13 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.

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What guests have appeared on The Foreign Desk?

Recent guests on The Foreign Desk include:

1. Isaac Stanley Becker
2. Alberto Alemano
3. Corina Pons
4. Archon Fung
5. Adrian Masanari
6. Claire Stapleton
7. Gil Duran
8. Matto Mildenberger

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