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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
Gaza
Middle East
Immigration
Australia
Greenland
Lebanon
Taiwan

​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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NewsPoliticsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Thirty years ago, it was assumed that the internet would be an engine of liberal democracy. Now, Silicon Valley’s massive wealth is embracing power and promoting right-wing ideology. How did we get here?

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India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party is scuttling onto the political stage. It has already claimed one minister’s resignation but can continued protests force the government to give up more ground?

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As Canada battles wildfires, Spain declares a national climate emergency and France evacuates tens of thousands, where do the politics around climate change stand? Is denialism gaining traction or is diplomacy winning the day?

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Andy Burnham became the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years this week. Why has Britain adopted Italian-style political turbulence and is it here to stay?

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Recent Guests

James Rothwell
Berlin correspondent for The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Episode: When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
André Costa Amaral
Journalist for Expresso das Heras (Cape Verde)
Expresso das Heras
Episode: When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
Patrick Snell
Sport anchor and correspondent for CNN International
CNN International
Episode: When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
Sally Jenkins
Staff writer at The Atlantic, reporter on Olympic and sports issues
The Atlantic
Episode: When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
Ferdinand Knapp
Breaking news reporter for Politico
Politico
Episode: When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
Gerhard Salge
Chief Technical Officer at Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy
Episode: Powering Purpose in London
Richard Nugee
Lieutenant General (ret.); former UK Ministry of Defence climate and sustainability reviewer
British Army (retired)
Episode: Powering Purpose in London
Olga Rosca
Foreign Policy and EU Affairs Advisor to President Mayasandhu of Moldova
Moldova Presidency
Episode: Powering Purpose in London
Kurt Wang
Global Lead of Energy Minerals and Circularity
World Resources Institute
Episode: The scramble for critical minerals

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 Kingdom3 months ago
  • Excellent satire

    Andrew is natural.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andrewb1001
    United Kingdom6 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
#108
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#128
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#169
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#33
Russia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#47
Chile/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#81
Indonesia/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
Q: Patrick Snell, what was your sense of Cape Verde's coach and team just before kickoff, and how has their campaign shifted perceptions about a small nation in football terms?
Patrick discusses the coach Bubista's calm confidence, the team's belief, and how Cape Verde's performance has elevated national pride and drawn attention to the country's potential on a global stage.
When politics kicks off at the World Cup: what separates the screamers from the own goals?
Q: Sally, first of all, give us some idea of how unusual it is that the head of state of a host nation would intercede in the manner that President Trump did.
Sally explains that while heads of state occasionally weigh in on sports, the boldness and public nature of this intervention was unusual and symptomatic of broader attempts to shape international perception and domestic support.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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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 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 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. James Rothwell
2. André Costa Amaral
3. Patrick Snell
4. Sally Jenkins
5. Ferdinand Knapp
6. Gerhard Salge
7. Richard Nugee
8. Olga Rosca

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