The Briefing
Monocle
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 26, 2025 • 29min
Nato countries deliberate a response to foreign drones in their airspace
Following multiple European airspace violations, we discuss how Nato countries will respond. Then: we explore what former French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s five-year sentence means for France. Plus: culture news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 25, 2025 • 29min
Why protesters are flying a pirate flag from a Japanese anime
Why a pirate flag featured in the hit Japanese anime TV show ‘One Piece’ has become a demonstration emblem for Gen Z protesters around the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 24, 2025 • 28min
US Secret Service uncovers a network that could have disrupted the UN General Assembly
The US Secret Service dismantles a vast telecoms network that could have disrupted the United Nations General Assembly in New York.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 23, 2025 • 30min
Separate drone incidents shut major European airports
Live from Zürich: Hybrid warfare fears grow after drone incidents cause disruptions at Copenhagen and Oslo airports. Plus: Burberry's London Fashion Week show. And: Why Zürich residents will have a vote on leaf blowers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 22, 2025 • 22min
Recognising a Palestinian state: the view from Asia
As several European countries formally recognise Palestinian statehood, we explore why many Asian countries have already made the move.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 19, 2025 • 24min
Donald Trump’s UK visit concludes – but how successful was it?
As the US president makes his way back across the Atlantic, we discuss the pomp, the pageantry and the politics. Plus: London Design Festival and a new book taking Japan by storm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 18, 2025 • 32min
Protests over budget cuts sweep France as Sébastien Lecornu faces first major test
France experiences new strikes as major unions oppose planned budget cuts by newly appointed prime minister Sébastien Lecornu. We discuss how the unrest threatens president Emmanuel Macron’s reform agenda. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 17, 2025 • 33min
Trump administration approves first Ukraine arms aid using allied funds
Washington restarts US arms shipments to Kyiv under a new agreement. Plus: Why Japan will not recognise a Palestinian state at next week’s UN summit and photographer Olivia Arthur on the Fujikina London 2025 festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 16, 2025 • 24min
Starmer looks to avoid pitfalls during Trump’s visit and we head to London Design Festival
Monocle’s foreign editor, Alexis Self, explains the minefield awaiting Starmer as he meets Trump. Our fashion editor, Natalie Theodosi, wraps up NYFW, while our design editor, Nic Monisse, takes us to London Design Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 15, 2025 • 22min
The latest on Thailand’s new government, Lebanon’s International Theatre Festival returns and design news
Thailand’s new prime minister will submit his cabinet for royal approval this week, Beirut’s historic Le Colisée cinema reopens for Lebanon’s International Theatre Festival and the latest design news from the Monocle team.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
