The Globalist – November 19, 2025

Episode Title: Poland rail blast spotlights Russian sabotage in Europe and Zelensky goes to Turkey
Host: Vincent McEvinney
Podcast: Monocle Radio

Overview

This packed edition of The Globalist zeroes in on mounting security threats in Europe, focusing on an explosion sabotaging a Polish railway line to Ukraine—a move Warsaw pins directly on Moscow. The episode explores the broader implications for European resilience and unity, the cyber and psychological aspects of Russia's campaign, as well as how Turkish diplomacy and US involvement might influence ongoing efforts for peace in Ukraine. Additional sections include a review of espionage warnings in the UK Parliament, US-Saudi relations and the Khashoggi aftermath, cultural trends in art and Christmas markets, and a notable new security agreement between Australia and Indonesia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Poland’s Railway Sabotage – "A Step Beyond" the Russian Playbook

[00:38–12:39]

Contributors

• Vincent McEvinney: Host
• Stephen Diel (DL): Russia analyst and Monocle Radio contributor
• Maciez Mazzini: Writer at large at Gazeta Wyborcza, lecturer in Poland

Main Points

• Polish authorities: Confirmed an explosion on the main rail artery to Ukraine, with Warsaw's PM Donald Tusk blaming Moscow.
• Mazzini: Public normalization of Russian intrusions ("It's a very worrying development... The Polish society seems to have normalized... Russian operatives... very active on the Polish side." – [04:34])
• Stephen DL: Views the incident as a critical shift
  • Quote: "I would say it’s gone beyond standard Russian playbook." ([03:20])
• Mazzini: Emphasizes Russia’s win in the information/cognitive war
  • Quote: "Russia is not just waging a war on critical infrastructure... it's also waging a war for our opinions and minds. And it seems to be winning both very clearly." ([06:25])
• Public awareness: Dangerously low due to information fatigue and normalization
  • Stephen DL: “We are all sleepwalking at the moment into a potential disaster.” ([07:52])
• Nature of threat: Not traditional warfare, but ‘chaos by a thousand cuts’: proxy sabotage, cyberattacks, disruption to public opinion.

Notable Quotes

• Stephen DL:
  • "Had the explosion damaged the train, killed people... we were talking about a very serious incident." ([07:11])
  • "Putin... is probing everywhere he can in Europe. We see so many examples now and it is time people realize just how serious this is." ([08:31])
• Mazzini:
  • "Russia... is after the dismantling of the united European front that supports Kyiv." ([09:40])

The Way Forward

• Societal resilience: More public education and readiness rather than just military spending
• Governments’ Role:
  • "The crucial thing... is actually educating the people more, trying to get to those people who don't watch the news and saying, listen, look..." ([11:42]) – Stephen DL

2. Zelensky in Turkey: Diplomatic Chessboard

[13:35–20:49]

Contributors

• Emma Nelson: Studio host
• Hannah Lucinda Smith: Monocle’s Istanbul correspondent

Main Points

• Zelensky's goal: Seeking a ceasefire with Russia, present a “fresh plan” in Ankara
• Erdogan’s unique role: Bridge between Russia and Ukraine; Turkey is simultaneously a supplier of arms to Ukraine and a conduit for Russian gas and oligarch money
  • "This friendship... between Erdogan and Putin is really something of a historical anomaly." ([15:12])
  • "Turkey has not sanctioned Russia or Russian entities... Turkey is also very useful to Russia because it allows a channel through which Russia can keep selling its gas to Europe..." ([15:58])
• US involvement: Steve Witkoff representing US interests, marking closer US-Turkey collaboration under Trump's administration
  • "Zelensky is clearly looking for some kind of ceasefire.... Russians have said they're not going to send any representatives..." ([13:35])
• Outlook: Russia remains the stronger military party; any ceasefire on current front lines would likely favor Moscow
  • "Russia is still pushing for more, and I think that tells us that Russia is still in the more powerful position here." ([17:09])

Notable Quotes

• Hannah Lucinda Smith: "Erdogan has really played on [his unique position] in order to give himself this position... able to bring the two together." ([16:58])

3. Espionage and Security: Parliamentary Warnings in the UK

[21:34–26:04]

Contributors

• Theo Ushwood: Political journalist and broadcaster

Main Points

• MI5 warnings: British intelligence warns MPs about Chinese efforts to infiltrate Parliament via low-paid, inexperienced young staffers using platforms like LinkedIn
  • "MI5 is warning they'll be after information that is fairly low level in the public domain. But... security agents... will invariably start to ramp up their demands." ([21:49])
• Security vulnerabilities: Young staffers are particularly susceptible to foreign recruitment due to inexperience and salary pressures.
• Current context: Renewed debate after UK's decision regarding China's "super embassy" planning in London.

4. US-Saudi Relations: The Khashoggi Shadow

[26:04–29:18]

Main Points

• Trump meets MBS: Trump minimizes Khashoggi’s murder; backs MBS against US intelligence findings
  • "Trump... brushed off questions, saying that these things happen and describing Jamal Khashoggi as somebody who is extremely controversial..." – Theo Ushwood ([26:19])
• MBS acknowledges error: Labels the killing a “huge mistake”; emphasizes Saudi efforts to prevent recurrence.

Bonus: Nicki Minaj praises Trump for attention to Nigerian Christian persecution, showcasing unexpected alliances.

5. Australia and Indonesia’s Security Pact

[31:39–39:36]

Contributors

• David Andrews: Senior Policy Advisor, Australian National University

Main Points

• Nature of treaty: Bilateral security treaty—consultation, not mutual defense (unlike NATO Article 5, more akin to Article 4)
• Strategic context:
  • "There isn’t perhaps the shared strategic space and... history and culture that you have in Europe... Nonalignment is a strong tradition in Asia." ([33:34])
• Implications:
  • Builds institutional ties via annual high-level meetings; opens the door to further defense and intelligence integration; comes amid uncertainty over regional threats and alliances.

6. Transatlantic Tensions and the German-American Conference

[40:10–46:19]

Contributors

• H.J. Mai: Reporter
• Wendy Sherman: Former US Deputy Secretary of State

Main Points

• Transatlantic relationship under strain: European unease with Trump administration; alliance system built after WWII feeling acute stress
  • “Putting up with Trump has been really hard for Germany. At the same time... it’s more important than ever to stay connected.” – Jules Oberschulte ([40:41])
• Sherman’s insights:
  • "The US Is strongest when we work with Europe... But it is very challenging at the moment..." ([42:35])
  • "I think it’s important for Europe to take those frozen assets and use it to support Ukraine. The EU has done things it’s never done before..." ([44:32])
  • Cautions on the legality and motives of US Caribbean strikes.
• Takeaway: Future resilience depends on broad-based leadership, not just government figures.

7. Art Market Revival and Cultural Commentary

[47:08–55:03]

Contributors

• Ben Luke: Art Newspaper review editor
• Hannah Lucinda Smith: Co-host

Main Points

• Art market rebounds: Sotheby’s sees success with a record-breaking Gustav Klimt auction, boosting confidence after two years of decline.
• Klimt's cross-global appeal: Collector origin (Leonard Lauder) boosts demand.
• Quirky note: Maurizio Cattelan’s Golden Loo sells only for its gold value, raising questions about the conceptual art market.
• COP30 and the art world: Art industry aims to cut emissions, recognizing its role in climate impact due to travel and shipping.

8. The Swiss Christmas Market Comes to Paris

[56:11–59:37]

Contributors

• Katja Viber: Co-founder/creative force, Zurich Christmas markets
• Tom Edwards: Monocle

Main Points

• Exporting festive tradition: Swiss Christmas market finds a new home in Paris while preserving local flavor in each city (distinct layouts, signature foods, local customizations).
• Key emotional insight: "Every market, every location has this uniqueness and the different smell... my recommendation for this year is of course go to Paris and visit it." – Katja Viber ([58:16])

Notable Quotes

• "Russia is not just waging a war on critical infrastructure... it's also waging a war for our opinions and minds. And it seems to be winning both very clearly."
  – Maciez Mazzini ([06:25])

• "We are all sleepwalking at the moment into a potential disaster."
  – Stephen DL ([07:52])

• "Erdogan has really played on [his unique position] in order to give himself this position... able to bring the two together."
  – Hannah Lucinda Smith ([16:58])

• "Putting up with Trump has been really hard for Germany. At the same time... it’s more important than ever to stay connected."
  – Jules Oberschulte ([40:41])

• "The crucial thing... is actually educating the people more, trying to get to those people who don't watch the news and saying, listen, look..."
  – Stephen DL ([11:42])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Poland railroad sabotage / Russian escalation: [00:38–12:39]
• Zelensky in Turkey / Turkey’s diplomatic role: [13:35–20:49]
• UK Parliament Chinese espionage warning: [21:34–26:04]
• Trump, MBS, and Khashoggi: [26:04–29:18]
• Australia-Indonesia security agreement: [31:39–39:36]
• German-American Conference, Wendy Sherman interview: [40:10–46:19]
• Art market revival / Klimt auction: [47:08–55:03]
• Swiss Christmas market in Paris: [56:11–59:37]

Tone and Style

The episode blends serious, sometimes somber geopolitical analysis with lighter cultural fare, maintaining Monocle's signature mix of sharp expert insight and cosmopolitan breadth. The language is brisk, clear, and accessible, with moments of dry wit and grounded realism.

Conclusion

This episode captures a Europe grappling with the normalization of sabotage and cyberattacks, the evolution of diplomatic roles amid global conflicts, and the ever-shifting intersections between culture, politics, and public opinion. The message: sustained resilience and unity require not just hardware and treaties, but public awareness, savvy communication, and broad-based leadership.