The Globalist — February 17, 2026

Episode Theme:
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's Endorsement of Viktor Orbán Ahead of Hungary’s Elections, Key European Reactions, Belarus Opposition Insights, and Major Global News

Episode Overview

This episode of Monocle’s The Globalist centers on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s high-profile endorsement of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán just ahead of critical parliamentary elections, exploring the domestic and international repercussions. The show also features interviews on Belarus' strained democracy, global and regional political developments, and broader current affairs, providing listeners with deep, on-the-ground perspectives from Monocle’s global network.

Main Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. Rubio’s Endorsement of Viktor Orbán: Analysis from Budapest

[02:15–11:37]

Background

• Viktor Orbán is seeking a fifth consecutive term in Hungary’s most contested election since taking power.
• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Budapest (and only one other Eurosceptic country, Slovakia) after the Munich Security Conference to endorse Orbán.

Key Insights

With guest: Lilly Takash, journalist at Hungarian newspaper 444.

• Nature of Endorsement:

  • Rubio focused on his strong personal relationship with Orbán and ex-President Trump, repeatedly highlighting the benefits for Hungary stemming from these personal ties, rather than concrete US-Hungary policy outcomes.
  • “He again and again emphasized the personal nature of this relationship. And… started to go on about how good the relationships between Donald Trump and Orbán are…”
    — Lilly Takash [03:38]

• Implications for Hungarian Election

  • Rubio avoided specific promises or policy commitments, and wouldn’t say if close US-Hungary ties would continue should Orbán lose.
  • This fits Fidesz’s campaign portraying Orbán as a major international statesman, versus the opposition’s image of Péter Magyar as inexperienced.

• Election Interference Concerns

  • Takash points out that while Rubio didn’t overtly tell Hungarians to vote for Fidesz, the visit is widely seen as “blatant… election interference” by opposition supporters.
  • “He didn’t say openly, you should vote for Fidesz… but that would have been the next step.”
    — Lilly Takash [05:35]

• Undisclosed Nuclear Deal

  • A nuclear energy agreement was mentioned but kept vague, likely part of broader US engagement with populist, Eurosceptic regimes.

• Strategic Geopolitics

  • Rubio’s visit aligns with the US National Security Strategy, which favors closer ties with populist governments (like Hungary, Poland, Italy) to pull them away from EU integration, reflecting Trump’s skepticism towards Brussels.

• European Reactions

  • France’s Macron, Germany’s Merz, and Italy’s Meloni were left out of Rubio’s itinerary, a deliberate slight suggesting Trump’s administration prefers dealing with Eurosceptic leaders.
  • Hungary’s relationship with Brussels is described as being “at an all-time low”—with Orbán now casting Brussels, not Moscow, as Hungary’s main adversary.

• Public Reaction in Hungary

  • Government supporters see the endorsement as a “big win”; opposition supporters decry outside interference and diversion from Hungary's domestic problems.

• Polling Overview

  • Independent polls suggest the opposition has a lead, but government-aligned pollsters predict another Fidesz victory. The campaign remains highly polarized and volatile.

Notable Quote:
“Orban’s main enemy is actually Brussels. Now, just this weekend, he has this state of union speech with his party and he said that talking about Putin is bullshit, while the real danger comes from Brussels…”
— Lilly Takash [08:38]

2. Belarusian Opposition’s Fight and the Ukraine Context

[12:38–19:24]

Key Interview

Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus opposition leader, with contributing editor Andrew Muller.

• Shifting International Focus

  • Belarus is positioned as a growing security risk in Europe, not just a humanitarian crisis, with fears of it being used as a launchpad for further Russian aggression.
  • “Now it’s about security… Belarus might be used again as a launching pad for acts of aggression.”
    — Tsikhanouskaya [12:38]

• Lukashenko Regime’s Relationship with Russia

  • “Lukashenko is serving to Russia’s interests, not to Belarusian ones… They ideologically, you know, on the same page.”
    — Tsikhanouskaya [13:45]

• Ukraine-Belarus Opposition Dynamic

  • Recent meetings (e.g., with Zelensky in Vilnius) have improved coordination; Ukraine increasingly recognizes the importance of a free Belarus for regional security.
  • “Free Belarus is in the interest of Ukraine as well.”
    — Tsikhanouskaya [14:51]

• Internal vs. External Resistance

  • Severe repression prevents open resistance inside Belarus, but networks leak information on regime war profiteering and sanctions evasions.
  • External opposition relies on international sanctions and non-recognition policies.

• Political Prisoners and "Revolving Door" Repression

  • While high-profile prisoners (including her husband) have been released, more detainments continue.
  • “Two people released, four are detained, so it’s like revolving doors at the moment.”
    — Tsikhanouskaya [17:52]

3. Review of the European and Global Front Pages

[20:35–29:26]

Hosts: Georgina Godwin and Paul Waldy (Globe and Mail)

Iran–US Nuclear Talks ([20:45–23:26])

• Geneva talks underway, with Trump’s envoys present. Trump claims “indirect involvement.” Signals from both sides suggest cautious optimism but tensions remain high.
• Iran seeks sanctions relief; the US wants wider discussions on Iran’s regional influence.

UK Politics ([23:26–25:39])

• Labour’s numerous policy reversals spark criticism; recent U-turn on local election timing hands the Reform Party (Farage’s party) a major win.

London Phone Thefts ([26:14–28:00])

• Met Police has reduced the number, but it remains a major urban problem. Calls for phone makers to make devices harder to activate post-theft.

Canadian Curling Scandal ([28:10–29:26])

• Uncharacteristic accusations of cheating shake Canada’s Olympic curling reputation, with even players’ expletive-ridden reactions broadcast live.

4. Climate News: Clean Energy Jobs & Food Security Projections

[31:12–37:19]

With Sheena Rossiter (Edmonton)

US Clean Energy Education Initiatives

• Schools in the US (e.g., Greenville, SC) are training students for the booming renewables sector, despite President Trump’s climate denialism.

Growth of the Sector

• Clean energy jobs are expanding faster than other US industries; two-thirds of cars will be electric by 2030.

AI Study on Food Crises

• Recent AI research (European Commission, Giovanni Strattorn) projects that by 2100, over 1.1 billion people will face severe food insecurity due to climate change, with Africa hardest hit.
• “If the world continues to emit… over 1.1 billion people… will have been exposed to at least one food crisis by the end of the century.”
  — Sheena Rossiter [35:37]

Cautious Optimism

• If Africa invests in conflict reduction and sustainability, hunger crises could diminish after 2050.

5. Nepal’s Upcoming Elections Amidst Political Upheaval

[38:26–44:48]

With Deepak Adhikari (Kathmandu-based journalist)

• Nepal sees its first national vote since last year’s anti-corruption protests toppled the prior government.
• Main parties: Nepali Congress, Marxist-Leninists, Maoists, and the new Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by a celebrity journalist.
• Major issues: unemployment, economic growth, migration.
• Diaspora cannot vote, yet exerts indirect influence via family connections.
• Stakes are high; fear of persecution by losing parties looms given precedents of political retaliation.

6. Urbanism News from Zurich: New Cities, Curb Management, and Olympic Legacies

[45:36–53:25]

With Jessica Bridger (Monocle contributor)

Building New Cities as Housing Solutions

• History of purpose-built cities for industry; new “tech-topias” largely extensions of this idea.
• Cautions about social ghettoization if not linked to economic opportunity and infrastructure.

Dynamic Curb Management

• Boston’s Curb Lab tests flexible street regulations to adapt to delivery and parking needs.

Winter Olympics and Urban Development

• Milan/Cortina Olympics lauded for sustainable reuse of venues (e.g., athlete housing converted to student housing).
• “It’s about how to build things that can be reused or repurposed…”
  — Jessica Bridger [52:21]

7. On the Ground at the Milan Winter Olympics

[54:00–58:32]

With Tom Webb, Monocle’s deputy head of radio in Milan

• Vibrant Olympic atmosphere in Milan, with swelling crowds, renowned hospitality, and city-led efforts to impress global journalists.
• Highlights include enthralling hockey finals, dedication of King of Sweden, and innovation in sports gear (Uniqlo adaptation for extreme conditions).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On US–Hungary Relations:
  “He again and again emphasized the personal nature of this relationship… not so much about the countries but the closeness of Trump and Orbán.”
  — Lilly Takash [03:38]

• On Election Interference:
  “He didn't say openly, you should vote for Fidesz... but that would have been the next step.”
  — Lilly Takash [05:35]

• On Orbán's Narrative:
  “Talking about Putin is bullshit, while the real danger comes from Brussels...”
  — Lilly Takash [08:38]

• Belarus as a Launchpad for Russian Aggression:
  “Now it’s about security... Belarus might be used again as a launching pad for acts of aggression.”
  — Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya [12:38]

• On Political Imprisonment in Belarus:
  “Two people released, four are detained, so it’s like revolving doors at the moment.”
  — Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya [17:52]

• On Urbanism and the Olympics:
  “How do we make a more sustainable Games where the arrival of the Games brings positive influx of urbanistic ideas... instead of getting left and decays as we’ve seen before?”
  — Jessica Bridger [52:18]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Rubio/Orbán Analysis: [02:15–11:37]
• Belarus Opposition Interview: [12:38–19:24]
• European/Global Headlines: [20:35–29:26]
• Climate News: [31:12–37:19]
• Nepal Elections: [38:26–44:48]
• Urbanism Segment: [45:36–53:25]
• Milan Olympics Live Update: [54:00–58:32]

Overall Tone

Balanced, probing, analytical; Monocle’s trademark blend of straightforward journalistic rigor and lively, conversational interviews.

Summary Takeaway

This episode provides a compelling portrait of realpolitik in Europe, as U.S. foreign policy plays favorites among EU nations, while internal divisions and democratic struggles are laid bare from Budapest to Minsk to Kathmandu. Listeners gain rare, nuanced access to on-the-ground perspectives, cutting through spin to surface the actual stakes of 2026’s pivotal moments.