The Globalist – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Could Trump send the US military to quell protests in Minnesota?
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Emma Nelson (Monocle Radio)

Overview

This episode of The Globalist delivers a comprehensive review of global news headlines, with in-depth discussions spanning from the sentencing of South Korea's former president to the escalating standoff in Minnesota between President Donald Trump and local authorities. The show also covers a major failure in Greek aviation infrastructure, the evolving world of sake, and agricultural adaptation in Sicily due to climate change. Throughout, the episode interrogates the themes of the rule of law and the shifting landscape of executive power.

Key Segments & Insights

1. South Korean Former President Yoon Suk Yeol Sentenced

Guest: Rafael Rashid, journalist (The Guardian, Al Jazeera)
Timestamps: 02:18–07:38

• Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing his arrest and abuse of power, related to his failed 2024 attempt to impose martial law.
• He mobilized the presidential security service and military to block investigators and selectively notified cabinet members to skirt constitutional responsibilities.
• This case is one of several; prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in a separate insurrection trial verdict (expected mid-February).
• Widespread expectation remains that, as with previous presidents, Yoon may eventually be pardoned.

Notable Quote:
“He basically tried to do whatever he wanted… the judge found that he had essentially gone above the constitution.”
— Rafael Rashid (03:50)

2. Trump, The Insurrection Act, & Protests in Minnesota

Guest: Chris Chermack, Monocle Senior News Editor
Timestamps: 07:39–15:16

• President Donald Trump threatens to invoke the Insurrection Act (1807) to deploy the military against protests following police/ICE shootings in Minnesota.
• Historically, the Act has been used rarely and typically upon state governor request – e.g., 1992 LA riots, 1962 Ole Miss integration.
• Governor Tim Walls and local officials urge peaceful protest, asking citizens to document ICE actions but not escalate, to avoid giving Trump legal grounds for military intervention.
• The death of Renee Goode at the hands of ICE is catalyzing deeper social divides—some see her as an innocent victim, others say she should have complied. The issue exposes urban-rural and political splits in America.

Notable Quotes:
“Simply to have a protest is not enough to invoke something like the Insurrection Act… He'd really need reason to do it. Although we know with Donald Trump… he doesn't necessarily follow legal niceties.”
— Chris Chermack (10:23)

“To suggest that Renee Goode was so aggressively not complying that she deserved to be shot… I'd urge people to look at the video again.”
— Chris Chermack (12:12)

• The discussion draws parallels between the U.S. scenario and recent abuse of power cases (South Korea, Iran, Brazil), highlighting global challenges to checks and balances.

3. Greece’s Air Traffic Communications Blackout

Guest: Emmanuel Papavasilio, Greek journalist & Monocle contributor
Timestamps: 16:15–22:15

• On January 4, a major radio communication failure grounded all flights in Greek airspace for eight hours, causing continent-wide disruptions.
• The cause was dated infrastructure (from 1999) without available replacement parts—not a cyber-attack as initially feared.
• The resignation of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority head was seen as scapegoating, with deep-rooted infrastructure neglect as the true culprit.
• Greece’s rapid economic turnaround has outpaced investment in critical systems, echoing systemic issues seen in previous disasters.

Notable Quote:
“This was a big preventable mistake… The fact that the head of the Civil Aviation Authority resigned is not enough to just throw someone under the bus.”
— Emmanuel Papavasilio (18:27)

4. Review of European Headlines & International Affairs

Guest: Zoe Grunewald, Westminster Editor at The Lead
Timestamps: 23:29–31:23

• Nobel Peace Prize drama: Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado symbolically hands her Nobel medal to Donald Trump in an attempt to win U.S. support. Trump declines backing her for leadership.
• British Politics: Conservative MP Robert Jenrick defects to populist Reform party as UK opposition fractures further.
• Hungarian Elections: PM Viktor Orban’s campaign leverages endorsements from global far-right leaders including Netanyahu, despite official Israeli boycotts.

Notable Quote:
“If you fill [Reform] with former Conservative MPs… is it really anti-establishment or is it just a retirement home for former Conservative MPs?”
— Zoe Grunewald (27:35)

5. U.S. Immigration Visa Suspensions Impact Thailand & Brazil

Guests: James Chambers (Asia editor), Antonio Sampaio (Latin America security & politics)
Timestamps: 32:32–40:17

• The Trump administration suspends some immigrant visa processes for 75 countries, surprising many, including close allies like Thailand and Brazil.
• Both countries express confusion and concern about arbitrary inclusion; tourism and student/business visas are unaffected, but uncertainty chills broader sentiment.
• Notable concern for Americans abroad with foreign spouses, given Trump’s hardline immigration posture.

Notable Quotes:
“The Thais don’t understand what criteria was used and why they’re included… They just want some clarification.”
— James Chambers (35:30)

“It’s a climate of extreme uncertainty.”
— Antonio Sampaio (37:56)

6. What We Learned – Weekly Satirical Review

Host: Andrew Muller
Timestamps: 40:42–47:07

• Satirical reflections on recent events: U.S. presidential rhetoric around land rights (hinting at Native American land claims), inconsistent stances on protests (domestic vs. Iran), executive pardons for January 6th rioters, and economic populism (tariffs and “$3 meals”).
• Anecdotes underscore contradictions in American politics, global governance, and attempts at international rapprochement (Japan/South Korea K-pop jam).

Notable Moments:

• “We learned… it does not mean one single goddamn thing if a crew of your ancestors blundered onto some foreign shore several centuries back, ran up a flag and claimed to own the place.”
  — Andrew Muller (41:49)
• Humorous take on Trump’s dietary policy: “...their new daily diet of a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli… and one other thing.” (44:50)

7. Spotlight – The World of Sake

Guest: John Gauntner, sake educator & exporter
Timestamps: 47:52–53:40

• Sake breweries in Japan face rising costs (rice, energy, labor), yet quality is at an all-time high due to modern tech and new yeast/rice varieties.
• Increasing number of women master brewers signals a shift from traditional male-dominated industry.
• Sake styles are diversifying - from light, wine-like types appealing to international markets to richer, food-friendly varieties.
• The process of rice milling is crucial: more milling creates elegant flavors and is legally documented on labels.

Notable Quote:
“The more you mill it [the rice], the more you remove the stuff that’s going to give you cloying flavors… the more elegant and refined the sake.”
— John Gauntner (52:17)

8. Climate Change & Sicilian Agriculture

Guest: Annik Weber, Monocle Paris correspondent
Timestamps: 54:20–58:39

• Sicilian farmers, grappling with extreme heat and erratic weather, are pivoting from traditional crops (lemons, olives) to tropicals: avocados, mangoes, papayas, coffee, cacao.
• This adaptation is attracting young people back to farming due to higher profitability and sustainability options (like seawater irrigation).
• The shift prompts reflection on tradition vs. innovation in local culinary/cultural identity.

Notable Quote:
“Diversifying to these new sorts of harvests gives the young generation hope again – and keeps farming attractive for them.”
— Annik Weber (56:48)

Overarching Themes

• Rule of Law vs. Executive Overreach: Multiple stories highlight the tension between constitutional checks and contemporary leaders’ readiness to bypass legal precedent, whether in the U.S., South Korea, Hungary, or Brazil.
• Social Divides: The Minnesota protests and immigration review present deepening cultural, racial, and political splits, mirrored elsewhere globally.
• Globalization & Nationalism: Symbolized by visa restrictions, political endorsements across borders, and adaptive agriculture.

Memorable Quotes (with Speaker & Timestamp)

• “He had essentially gone above the constitution... tried to do whatever he wanted.”
  — Rafael Rashid (03:50)
• “Donald Trump needs the flames to be fanned quite dramatically... because simply to have a protest is not enough to invoke something like the Insurrection Act.”
  — Chris Chermack (10:17)
• “We haven’t learned of the Seminoles knocking on the door at Mar-a-Lago and giving the occupant an hour to pack his bags... but the year is young.”
  — Andrew Muller (41:49)
• “That’s not going to fix the problem.”
  — Emmanuel Papavasilio (18:58)

Conclusion

A wide-ranging, incisive, and often witty snapshot of the world in January 2026 – examining power, protest, infrastructure, culture, and climate both in headlines and beneath the surface. Listeners come away with a nuanced understanding of current affairs, laced with Monocle’s trademark global perspective and dry humor.