The Briefing
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.
Latest episodes
Jul 18, 2025 • 36min
Germany enters a new European security era
Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, resets UK relations but tussles with Brussels’ budget. Plus: Milan’s mayoral woes, the UK lowers the voting age and how Superman overcame an attempted Maga backlash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 17, 2025 • 31min
Trump turns his attention to the Gulf
President Trump hosted Qatar’s prime minister and Bahrain’s Crown Prince, reinforcing a growing diplomatic push in the Gulf. We discuss the strategy and why US engagement with the region is intensifying.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 16, 2025 • 33min
Trump hosts Qatar’s prime minister amid Gaza-ceasefire efforts
Qatar’s prime minister joins the US president for dinner as the push for a ceasefire in Gaza continues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 15, 2025 • 32min
Air India investigation prompts aviation authorities in at least two countries to check Boeing fuel switches
We discuss the latest from the Air India crash investigation as the country’s aviation regulator tells its airlines to inspect the fuel switches on several Boeing planes, despite US regulators insisting that they’re safe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 14, 2025 • 32min
Bastille Day military parade yields Macron promises on defence spending
France’s president pledges to double defence spending by 2027 as Paris prepares for its Bastille Day parade at a time when Russia continues to pummel Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 11, 2025 • 38min
Trump’s letter to Canada threatening a 35 per cent tariff rate
Another day, another letter from the Trump administration spelling out tariff rates and sending markets into confusion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 10, 2025 • 31min
Ukraine suffers another record barrage of Russian drone-and-missile strikes overnight
The fourth annual Ukraine Recovery Conference is under way in Rome during record drone-and-missile strikes from Russia in Kyiv. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 9, 2025 • 30min
How recent IDF deaths are fuelling the debate in Israel to end the war
Hamas says more captures are coming after five Israeli soldiers are killed in Gaza, threatening the coalition in Israel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 8, 2025 • 36min
Netanyahu, Trump and Israel Katz plan for the relocation of Palestinians
What would a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza look like? And could it become permanent? We explore the plans of Israel’s defence minister and consider whether Netanyahu and Trump will back the move.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 7, 2025 • 32min
Brics summit: genocide accusations, tariff threats and absentee leaders
We discuss the latest from the Brics summit in Rio de Janeiro as Donald Trump threatens tariffs on the bloc due to “anti-American policies”. Then: a Swedish church or a Russian spy enclave?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
