The Globalist — December 2, 2025

Host: Georgina Godwin (Monocle Radio)
Episode Theme:
A sweeping look at world current affairs, including the historic conclusion of Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon, the social-political fallout from Indonesia’s floods, German-Polish relations, Airbus’ recent safety scare, the Balkans’ oil & music woes, plus a behind-the-scenes on Monocle’s new Switzerland handbook.

1. Pope Leo’s Final Day in Lebanon: Symbolism, Security, and Social Impact

Main Focus:
Pope Leo’s first foreign tour wraps up with an unprecedented stop in Beirut. His visit is both spiritual and highly political, offering hope to a crisis-ridden Lebanon, emphasizing interfaith dialogue, and bringing rare international attention as the country reels from economic collapse and recurring violence.

Key Discussion Points:

• Historic Pilgrimage:

  • The Pope visited the tomb of Saint Charbel, an unprecedented act for a pontiff, resonating beyond the Christian community (03:51).
  • Heavy security accompanied his tour, as Lebanon continues to be struck by Israeli airstrikes (02:12).

• Papal Messaging:

  • To Young People:

    “Dear young people, perhaps you regret inheriting a world torn apart by wars and disfigured by social injustice. Yet there is hope, and there is hope within you.”
    —Pope Leo, addressing youth in Lebanon (03:51)

  • To Political Leaders:
    Called on leaders to put differences aside amid crises, but did not directly address Israeli attacks, reflecting the Vatican’s preference for quiet diplomacy (06:53).

  • On Emigration:
    The Pope urged especially Christians to “not give up on Lebanon,” highlighting concerns over brain drain and a growing diaspora (08:11).

  • Interfaith Emphasis:
    The Pope’s presence was well received across religious communities. Muslims registered en masse for his waterfront mass (09:25), symbolizing a rare national unity.

Local Perspectives (David Wood, International Crisis Group):

• The visit provided a crucial morale boost amid international neglect and daily hostilities.
• Security for the event was tight and praised, accomplished despite Lebanon’s crumbling infrastructure (10:47).
• There is widespread anxiety that the “papal pause”—the temporary calm during the visit—will end, possibly with intensified conflict (12:03).

• “...the Pope, merely by visiting for three days has done more to reassure people that there will be a return of relative stability... than the Lebanese government has been able to offer.”
  —David Wood (12:11)

Timestamps:

• Introduction and setup: 01:25–02:12
• Pope’s speech to youth: 03:51
• Interview with David Wood: 04:33–13:30

2. Catastrophic Floods in Indonesia: Political Criticism and Public Response

Main Focus:
Indonesia faces its deadliest natural disaster since 2018, exposing weaknesses in government response and sparking debate about disaster management and accountability.

Key Points:

• Over 1,100 dead across the region, with the death toll rising (13:30–14:41).
• President Prabowo’s government criticized for not declaring a national emergency (15:01).
• Disaster Agency defends decision, pointing to even more severe past events (15:33).
• Economic losses are staggering ($4.1 billion estimated as of Nov 13; figures likely to increase) (17:03).
• Public and media nationwide express solidarity and growing anger, especially around relaxed regulations contributing to the disaster (16:13).

Quote:

“Weak political will as well as weak regulations are some of the contributing factors here.”
—Randy Mulianto, Red Voice Indonesia (17:03)

Timestamps:

• Segment start: 13:30
• Economic/political impact: 17:03

3. European Headlines:

Host & Guest: Georgina Godwin & Alicia Fitzgerald (Political Journalist, London)

Key International Issues:

• Israel: Netanyahu seeks presidential pardon amid fraud cases, triggering local and global outcry. Trump reportedly encourages the move. (19:47–22:37)
• NATO: Plans for more aggressive response to Russian hybrid/wartime attacks (e.g., cable sabotage, cyberattacks), shifting from a reactive to proactive stance (23:01).

  “Cutting out undersea cables has a huge effect... NATO are basically saying...they need to get ahead of the curve.” —Alicia Fitzgerald (23:01)

• France: Push to end free healthcare for foreign pensioners, affecting both US and UK retirees (24:59–26:48).
• Fashion Awards: Sharon Stone announced the wrong award, a lighthearted note amidst the news; Kate Hawley recognized for Costume Designer of the Year on “Frankenstein” (26:55–28:24).

Timestamps:

• Israel: 19:47
• NATO: 23:01
• France: 24:59
• Fashion Awards: 26:55

4. Poland–Germany Relations: Cautious Optimism Meets Historical Burdens

Location: Gdansk, with Bruno Kaufman (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation)

Points Covered:

• Leaders meet in Berlin to reboot a tense, deeply historic relationship (31:14).
• Reparations remain a “non-issue” for Germany, but remain emotionally and politically significant in Poland (33:10).
• Gdansk as a living symbol: from WWII devastation to birthplace of the Solidarity movement and a modern center for civic participation (34:07).

  “Gdansk...is a model of a democracy city in Europe today.”
  —Bruno Kaufman (37:42)

Timestamps:

• Segment start: 31:14
• Reparations: 33:10
• Gdansk’s legacy: 35:13–37:42

5. Airbus’ Double Safety Scares: Confidence Shaken?

With Murdo Morrison (Flight Global Head of Strategic Content)

Summary:

• JetBlue’s emergency exposed a software flaw in Airbus jets vulnerable to solar radiation (38:32).
• Swift recall and fix of 6,000 aircraft—regulators acted fast, airlines responded well (39:35).
• Additional panel supply chain issue surfaced. Shares dipped but recovery expected (40:43).
• Boeing’s string of high-profile failures compared to Airbus’ historical reliability, yet Airbus’ handling of the crisis praised as effective and swift (41:26–43:04).

Quote:

“It’s very often how the manufacturer addresses these...Airbus seems to have addressed this issue very, very quickly and very effectively.”
—Murdo Morrison (42:37)

Timestamps:

• JetBlue incident: 38:32
• Recalls/regulatory response: 39:35
• Comparison to Boeing: 41:26

6. The Balkans: Serbia’s Energy Crisis and Contested Culture

With Guy Delaunay (Balkans Correspondent)

Fuel Crisis:

• Serbia’s only refinery at risk of shutdown due to sanctions blocking Russian oil supplies, impacting 80% of the nation’s fuel and affecting air travel (45:00–47:14).

Cultural Faultlines:

• High-profile music events stoke political and national tensions:
  • Serbian singer Aca Lukas’ concert banned over controversy with a Bosnian war crimes suspect, despite his own criminal record (47:17–48:59).
  • Ultra-nationalist Croatian singer Thompson (Marko Perković) banned for Nazi-salute lyrics after mega-gig allegedly fueled xenophobic violence (49:09).

    “Somehow the Nazi puppet state of the 1940s was the original independent Croatia is what some people seem to be saying.”
    —Guy Delaunay (51:38)

• Anti-fascist rallies attacked; government’s muddy response highlights ongoing societal rifts (51:43–52:40).

Timestamps:

• Serbia’s oil crisis: 45:00
• Music/cultural controversies: 47:17–52:40

7. The Monocle Handbook: Switzerland—A New Kind of Guide

With Claudia Jacob (Monocle Writer)

Inside the New Book:

• Switzerland chosen for its deep Monocle ties and embodiment of “quality, neutrality, and stability” (53:27).
• Unique challenges in guide structuring: no coastline, alpine travel, and linguistic diversity (54:36).
• Aims to “look beyond the stereotypes,” exploring all corners and cultures (54:52).

  “Switzerland is a place that can welcome a lot of different people...all those countries’ identities are reflected within Switzerland itself.”
  —Claudia Jacob (55:51)

• Highlights for visitors and would-be expats: food, art, architecture, regional nuance, even a supermarket recommendation (MiGros!) as a true Swiss experience (58:16).

Timestamps:

• Book intro: 53:17
• Stereotypes and diversity: 54:52
• Travel anecdotes and tips: 56:41–58:36

Notable Quotes & Moments (by Timestamp)

• Pope Leo:
  “...there is hope, and there is hope within you.” (03:51)
• David Wood (on papal visit):
  “...the Pope, merely by visiting for three days has done more to reassure people...than the Lebanese government has been able to offer.” (12:11)
• Randy Mulianto (Indonesia):
  “Weak political will as well as weak regulations are some of the contributing factors here.” (17:03)
• Alicia Fitzgerald (NATO/Russia):
  “It’s massive and our data is compromised again and again.” (23:01)
• Bruno Kaufman (Gdansk):
  “Gdansk is really...a model of a democracy city in Europe today.” (37:42)
• Murdo Morrison (Airbus):
  “...it’s very often how the manufacturer addresses these...Airbus seems to have addressed this issue very, very quickly...” (42:37)
• Guy Delaunay (Croatia/Thompson):
  “Independent Croatia with...the homeland war, and...the Nazi puppet state of the 1940s was the original independent Croatia is what some people seem to be saying.” (51:38)
• Claudia Jacob (Switzerland):
  “Switzerland is a place that can welcome a lot of different people...all those countries' identities are reflected within Switzerland itself.” (55:51)
  “The supermarket in Switzerland, Migros...if you're in Switzerland, you need to go and check it out.” (58:16)

Conclusion

This episode blends breaking international news with deep-dive analysis—balancing political drama, cultural nuance, and practical lifestyle tips. From Pope Leo’s bold intervention in Lebanon to the nuts and bolts of Swiss living, The Globalist provides a brisk global tour with both gravitas and wit.

For listening reference:

• Pope Leo in Lebanon: 01:25–13:30
• Indonesia’s floods: 13:30–18:08
• European headlines: 19:10–28:24
• Poland–Germany: 31:14–37:42
• Airbus safety issues: 38:32–44:03
• Balkans: 44:53–52:40
• Handbook on Switzerland: 53:17–58:36