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The death of popularity: Why are no politicians liked anymore?

40 min • 30 juli 2025

Approval ratings for leaders in the US and UK are slumping, we unpack why global politics seems so fragmented. Plus: The fallout from Tehran’s water crisis and the reason behind a Regency literature revival.

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Senaste avsnitt

Tensions on the Mexican border as US announces largest-ever migrant-detention facility

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Preparations begin for a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

7 augusti | 35 min

US foreign envoy Steve Witkoff meets Vladimir Putin as sanctions threat looms

6 augusti | 39 min

The Netherlands becomes the first country to buy US arms for Ukraine

5 augusti | 36 min

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza to free hostages and Italy’s plan to tackle unpaid fines

4 augusti | 40 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominates agenda at the Helsinki+50 Conference. Plus: ‘Salute’ to National Spritz Day

1 augusti | 40 min

How will recognising a Palestinian state affect tariff deals with Trump?

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The death of popularity: Why are no politicians liked anymore?

30 juli | 40 min

The UK sets out a plan to conditionally recognise the state of Palestine

29 juli | 39 min

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and why European leaders are concerned over the EU-US trade deal

28 juli | 38 min

Fancy paying the US Treasury’s $37.1trn debt? There’s a website for that

25 juli | 43 min

Pragmatism vs politics at the China-EU summit

24 juli | 39 min

Israel passes motion backing annexation of the West Bank

23 juli | 45 min

Is al-Sharaa’s Syria failing to live up to Western optimism?

22 juli | 40 min

Growing global frustrations with Netanyahu. Plus: How to incentivise a diaspora to return home

21 juli | 39 min

Will Ukraine become a testing ground for new, foreign weapons?

18 juli | 42 min

Merz-Starmer summit in London: Will Germany and the UK answer Trump’s demands?

17 juli | 37 min

Tariffs, budgets and politics: how the West is dealing with uncertain economies

16 juli | 38 min

Israel strikes tanks in Syria amid violent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions

15 juli | 40 min

Deal or no deal? Trump gives Russia 50 days to make peace

14 juli | 36 min

What’s next for US-Ukraine relations as world awaits Trump’s announcement

11 juli | 43 min

The UK and France reach historic nuclear-cooperation deal – and other agreements

10 juli | 41 min

Will Gaza finally get a ceasefire – and can the US guarantee that it holds?

9 juli | 40 min

Does Donald Trump deserve a Nobel Peace Prize?

8 juli | 38 min

Brics nations criticise Nato’s increased defence-spending target and Parisian swimmers return to the Seine

7 juli | 36 min

The ‘Monocle Mediterraneo’ newspaper kicks off the summer

4 juli | 41 min

Emmanuel Macron speaks with Vladimir Putin: should other European leaders follow suit?

3 juli | 38 min

How does Trump decide which countries get trade deals and which get tariffs?

2 juli | 36 min

A new EU-Ukraine trade deal, the end of USAID and Mark Carney’s first Canada Day as leader

1 juli | 38 min

Does Iran still have nuclear capabilities? And: the problem of litigating intelligence in public

30 juni | 45 min

Live from Paris: Why France won’t move again when it comes to pensions

27 juni | 31 min

Live from Paris: US claims ‘historically successful’ strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

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Live from Paris: Why Turkey is breathing a sigh of relief over the tentative Israel-Iran ceasefire

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Live from Paris: Macron and Merz herald a united Europe as Nato’s summit opens in The Hague

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Live from Paris: Emmanuel Macron appeals for restraint in the Middle East

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Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey: The best cities for everything from housing and mobility to conviviality

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Will he or won’t he? Trump mulls joining Israel’s strikes on Iran

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The G7: Pageantry in Canada; will China and Russia get invites next year?

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Zürich Art Week vs Art Basel: Who wins?

16 juni | 41 min

Israel-Iran strikes latest: The view from Globsec 2025

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Air India plane crash: What we know so far

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Can South Korea ease tensions with its neighbour by muting its propaganda broadcasts?

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The EU proposes new sanctions on Russia. Will the 18th package work?

10 juni | 38 min

What can the LA, Freedom Flotilla and Madrid protests accomplish?

9 juni | 37 min

Tales from Odesa and Portugal’s precarious politics

6 juni | 42 min

Merz in the Oval Office

5 juni | 38 min

US to scale down military operations in Syria. Plus: Macron and Meloni meet in Rome

4 juni | 36 min

The UK’s major defence review and US-Iran nuclear talks

3 juni | 41 min

Ukraine-Russia peace talks and Maga’s world tour

2 juni | 37 min

Tariff troubles and the Shangri-la Dialogue

30 maj | 43 min

Portugal’s political jigsaw

29 maj | 37 min

Ukraine prepares for expected Russian summer offensive

28 maj | 38 min

Macron’s big push for France in Southeast Asia

27 maj | 37 min

Monday 26 May

26 maj | 40 min

India and Pakistan’s rival diplomatic efforts

23 maj | 43 min

Putin visits the Kursk region

22 maj | 36 min

South Africa and the US look to reset relations

21 maj | 39 min

EU and UK slap more sanctions on Russia

20 maj | 38 min

Israel eases Gaza blockade

19 maj | 37 min

Unpacking Trump’s visit to the Gulf and Eurovision 2025

16 maj | 38 min

Is Putin serious about peace in Istanbul talks?

15 maj | 38 min

Trump urges al-Sharaa to make amends with Israel

14 maj | 38 min

US and Saudi Arabia sign historic arms deal

13 maj | 38 min

Live from Paris: Macron’s special relationship with Zelensky

12 maj | 39 min

What did Russia get out of Victory Day?

9 maj | 40 min

White smoke at the Vatican

8 maj | 38 min

The Vatican conclave begins and the papal role in conflict

7 maj | 39 min

Friedrich Merz becomes Germany’s new chancellor and Mark Carney in the White House

6 maj | 38 min

Live from London

5 maj | 39 min

World Press Freedom Index and Chanel unveils its Cruise 2025/26 collection

2 maj | 42 min

US-Ukraine minerals deal and France’s screen-ban proposal

1 maj | 38 min

Can Europe deliver on a Ukraine force?

30 april | 37 min

Special edition: Answering Life’s Big Questions – Economics

30 april | 11 min

Trump’s first 100 days and Mark Carney’s election victory

29 april | 38 min

Portugal-Spain power cuts and Canada votes

28 april | 38 min

Congo and Rwanda look to sign a peace accord and the final day of mourning for Pope Francis

25 april | 40 min

How important is a US trade deal for the UK?

24 april | 40 min

The fallout of the Kashmir terror attacks and rising tourism in post-conflict zones

23 april | 40 min

Special edition: Answering Life’s Big Questions – Politics

23 april | 12 min

Ukrainian peace talks in London and turmoil at the Pentagon

22 april | 38 min

Pope Francis’ legacy and the role of international ceasefires

21 april | 36 min

United States hosts Meloni and La Force pops by Midori House

18 april | 34 min

Ukraine’s future decided in Paris and South Korea puts the breaks on field trips

17 april | 35 min

Angola’s prison sentences for fake news and Tuvalu gets cash machines

16 april | 39 min

Special edition: Answering Life’s Big Questions – Technology

16 april | 12 min

UK hosts Sudan summit and Lisbon’s Strategic Noise Map

15 april | 39 min

Xi Jinping tours Southeast Asia and European travellers cancel US trips

14 april | 40 min

The Delphi Economic Forum and Salone del Mobile

11 april | 37 min

Russia begins spring offensive. Plus: which countries have the best tourists?

10 april | 38 min

Trump’s nuclear options with Iran, and Germany’s new coalition

9 april | 41 min

Special edition: Answering Life’s Big Questions – Marketing

9 april | 10 min

Are the US and China on the verge of an all-out trade war?

8 april | 37 min

Global markets tumble and is Doge coming to the UK?

7 april | 37 min

The impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol and Florida’s child-labour rules

4 april | 41 min

The death of popularity: Why are no politicians liked anymore?

Senaste avsnitt

Ukraine’s view of Putin-Trump talks and the new issue of Monocle

Zelensky meets Starmer ahead of Putin-Trump talks

Is the global push for a Palestinian state a distraction from Gaza?

Zelensky warns of Russian offensives ahead of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska

EU leaders urge Trump talks ahead of Putin meeting on Ukraine in Alaska

Tensions on the Mexican border as US announces largest-ever migrant-detention facility

Preparations begin for a summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin

US foreign envoy Steve Witkoff meets Vladimir Putin as sanctions threat looms

The Netherlands becomes the first country to buy US arms for Ukraine

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza to free hostages and Italy’s plan to tackle unpaid fines

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominates agenda at the Helsinki+50 Conference. Plus: ‘Salute’ to National Spritz Day

How will recognising a Palestinian state affect tariff deals with Trump?

The death of popularity: Why are no politicians liked anymore?

The UK sets out a plan to conditionally recognise the state of Palestine

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and why European leaders are concerned over the EU-US trade deal

Fancy paying the US Treasury’s $37.1trn debt? There’s a website for that

Pragmatism vs politics at the China-EU summit

Israel passes motion backing annexation of the West Bank

Is al-Sharaa’s Syria failing to live up to Western optimism?

Growing global frustrations with Netanyahu. Plus: How to incentivise a diaspora to return home

Will Ukraine become a testing ground for new, foreign weapons?

Merz-Starmer summit in London: Will Germany and the UK answer Trump’s demands?

Tariffs, budgets and politics: how the West is dealing with uncertain economies

Israel strikes tanks in Syria amid violent clashes between Druze and Bedouin factions

Deal or no deal? Trump gives Russia 50 days to make peace

What’s next for US-Ukraine relations as world awaits Trump’s announcement

The UK and France reach historic nuclear-cooperation deal – and other agreements

Will Gaza finally get a ceasefire – and can the US guarantee that it holds?

Does Donald Trump deserve a Nobel Peace Prize?

Brics nations criticise Nato’s increased defence-spending target and Parisian swimmers return to the Seine

The ‘Monocle Mediterraneo’ newspaper kicks off the summer

Emmanuel Macron speaks with Vladimir Putin: should other European leaders follow suit?

How does Trump decide which countries get trade deals and which get tariffs?

A new EU-Ukraine trade deal, the end of USAID and Mark Carney’s first Canada Day as leader

Does Iran still have nuclear capabilities? And: the problem of litigating intelligence in public

Live from Paris: Why France won’t move again when it comes to pensions

Live from Paris: US claims ‘historically successful’ strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

Live from Paris: Why Turkey is breathing a sigh of relief over the tentative Israel-Iran ceasefire

Live from Paris: Macron and Merz herald a united Europe as Nato’s summit opens in The Hague

Live from Paris: Emmanuel Macron appeals for restraint in the Middle East

Monocle’s Quality of Life Survey: The best cities for everything from housing and mobility to conviviality

Will he or won’t he? Trump mulls joining Israel’s strikes on Iran

What does neutrality really bring Switzerland?

The G7: Pageantry in Canada; will China and Russia get invites next year?

Zürich Art Week vs Art Basel: Who wins?

Israel-Iran strikes latest: The view from Globsec 2025

Air India plane crash: What we know so far

Can South Korea ease tensions with its neighbour by muting its propaganda broadcasts?

The EU proposes new sanctions on Russia. Will the 18th package work?

What can the LA, Freedom Flotilla and Madrid protests accomplish?

Tales from Odesa and Portugal’s precarious politics

Merz in the Oval Office

US to scale down military operations in Syria. Plus: Macron and Meloni meet in Rome

The UK’s major defence review and US-Iran nuclear talks

Ukraine-Russia peace talks and Maga’s world tour

Tariff troubles and the Shangri-la Dialogue

Portugal’s political jigsaw

Ukraine prepares for expected Russian summer offensive

Macron’s big push for France in Southeast Asia

Monday 26 May

India and Pakistan’s rival diplomatic efforts

Putin visits the Kursk region

South Africa and the US look to reset relations

EU and UK slap more sanctions on Russia

Israel eases Gaza blockade

Unpacking Trump’s visit to the Gulf and Eurovision 2025

Is Putin serious about peace in Istanbul talks?

Trump urges al-Sharaa to make amends with Israel

US and Saudi Arabia sign historic arms deal

Live from Paris: Macron’s special relationship with Zelensky

What did Russia get out of Victory Day?

White smoke at the Vatican

The Vatican conclave begins and the papal role in conflict

Friedrich Merz becomes Germany’s new chancellor and Mark Carney in the White House

Live from London

World Press Freedom Index and Chanel unveils its Cruise 2025/26 collection

US-Ukraine minerals deal and France’s screen-ban proposal

Can Europe deliver on a Ukraine force?