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
Aug 15, 2025 • 34min
US-Russia nuclear deal in Alaska: serious proposal or red herring?
Moscow signals that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s summit in Alaska could shift from Ukraine to restarting nuclear-arms talks. Gorana Grgić explores its prospects.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 14, 2025 • 38min
Russian forces continue to infiltrate Ukrainian defences ahead of Alaska summit
UK prime minister Keir Starmer welcomes the Ukrainian president at 10 Downing Street as Russia continues its offensive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 13, 2025 • 37min
First night of troop operations in Donald Trump’s Washington crime crackdown
The National Guard, normally reserved for times of major upheaval, takes to the streets of the US capital overnight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 12, 2025 • 37min
European leaders stress the need to keep pressure on Moscow
Leaders from Ukraine and Europe offer their own vision for ending the war after Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, demands territorial concessions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 11, 2025 • 29min
A lunar nuclear space race and eel conservation
Iran, Russia and China bristle at the US’s involvement in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal. Plus: a nuclear race to the moon and a row over eel conservation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 8, 2025 • 40min
The world reacts to Israel’s takeover of Gaza City and ‘Zero Day Attack’
Families of Israeli hostages lead protests in Tel Aviv as Israel announces plans to take over Gaza City. Plus: the showrunner of ‘Zero Day Attack’ and international box offices soar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 7, 2025 • 36min
Semiconductors and tariffs and spies... oh my!
Asian nations brace for a new tariff regime from the US. Taiwanese semiconductor maker TSMC hopes to get a reprieve, even as it fends off possible corporate spying.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 6, 2025 • 31min
Switzerland’s president, Karin Keller-Sutter, to meet Marc Rubio over shock tariffs
Switzerland’s president and business minister meet with the US secretary of state to discuss Trump’s steep tariffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 5, 2025 • 30min
Texas Democrats on the run as state Republicans issue arrest warrants
We discuss how Texas Democrats left the state to block a Trump-backed redistricting plan, as well as the Republicans’ response with civil arrest warrants. Plus: what the partisan standoff means ahead of 2026 midterms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 4, 2025 • 33min
Boeing defence workers go on strike in the latest blow to aviation giant
We discuss the first strike at Boeing’s defence hub in nearly 30 years and what it means for a company already facing production delays and reputational damage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
