The Globalist – December 12, 2025

Overview

This episode of The Globalist centers on pivotal global issues and stories of the day. The main focus is the international reaction to the United States’ seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela, escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. The episode also covers Portugal's significant general strike, shifting European travel trends to the U.S., Mercedes-Benz’s robo-taxi ambitions in Abu Dhabi, the opening of a Milanese-inspired restaurant in Paris, and the recognition of Swiss yodeling by UNESCO. Throughout, listeners are provided with expert regional perspectives, memorable commentary, and cultural highlights.

Key Segment 1: The U.S. Seizes a Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker

Context and Significance (02:01)

Host Tom Edwards introduces the lead story: the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast has driven up oil prices and marks another step in Washington's bid to squeeze Caracas’ main revenue source.

Macro Perspective

• Ed Stocker (Monocle Europe Editor-at-Large, former Americas Editor) joins in-studio:

  • On rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions:

    "Donald Trump wants to be seen as a winner… he wants to be seen as someone who takes decisive action." (03:20, Ed Stocker)

    • The U.S. openly opposes President Nicolás Maduro, blaming him for Venezuela’s ongoing economic collapse.
    • Previous efforts (supporting opposition leaders) have failed to change Venezuela's trajectory.
    • The Trump administration has stepped up military presence in the Caribbean (15,000 troops, a dozen ships).
    • U.S. has targeted ships alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, with questionable legal grounds. Over 80 people have been killed, but evidence is scant.
    • The U.S. accuses Maduro of leading the “Cartel de los Soles,” linking him directly to the drugs trade.

  • On the climate inside Venezuela:

    • Ed describes visiting during Hugo Chávez's presidency (Maduro’s predecessor).
    • Back then, oil wealth funded social programs and Caracas was safer.
    • Since then: dramatic economic mismanagement, soaring poverty, hyperinflation, and mass migration out of Venezuela, particularly to Miami, Spain, and Colombia.
    • Social stratification has grown; a small luxury class exists amidst widespread hardship.

    "Oil reserves it has... obviously it could be producing a lot more if it was handled in a different way... one can’t really think about the situation with Venezuela without thinking about this huge wealth." (08:17, Ed Stocker)

  • On appetite for U.S. intervention:

    • Historically, some populations have been open to foreign involvement, but in Venezuela, despite grievances against Maduro, many are resistant to outside intervention.

  • On other actors or mediators:

    • Qatar has attempted mediation; neighbors like Colombia are involved, but previous diplomatic efforts have failed.
    • Predicting Trump’s intentions is especially challenging due to his erratic, volatile style.

    "He wants to say that he's done that. He's already claimed that he solved how many conflicts... nearly in double figures." (10:42, Tom Edwards)

  • On the succession question:

    • María Corina Machado (recent Nobel Peace Prize winner) is the most prominent opposition figure.
    • Juan Guaidó is no longer a credible challenger.
    • Change seems unlikely unless the U.S. directly intervenes.

    "At the moment, you know, not much is going to change, I don’t think unless the U.S. decides to wade in." (11:27, Ed Stocker)

Key Segment 2: Portugal’s General Strike – Public Pushback Against Labor Reforms

The Strike and Its Motivation (13:14)

• Portugal's first general strike in over a decade paralyzed transport, education, and healthcare.

• Carlota Rebelo (Monocle senior foreign correspondent):

  • The strike was triggered by government proposals affecting labor laws:

    • Employers could renew temporary contracts indefinitely
    • “Fire and rehire” practices would become easier
    • Removes guarantees for reinstatement or compensation following labor disputes

    "This has been described as the biggest regression in terms of labor rights since the democratic process after the [Carnation Revolution]." (15:48, Carlota Rebelo)

  • The reforms are out of step with wider European trends.

  • Public largely supports the unions, despite inconvenience.

• Public Reaction and Impact:

  • Transport: Lisbon metro entirely closed; most airport services disrupted.
  • Healthcare: ~90% of doctors/nurses participated; only emergency services maintained.
  • The government initially tried to downplay the strike but softened its rhetoric after seeing the scale.

• What’s Next?

  • Political pressure on the government is mounting; the most controversial reforms may be reworked as Parliament enters recess.
  • Opposition parties' support is questionable, making passage of the full reform package uncertain.

Key Segment 3: The U.S. Faces a Tourism Slump

Declining Visitor Numbers (19:49)

• Ash Bardwaj (broadcaster/author):

  • U.S. tourism is down 5% year-on-year, especially from the EU, Mexico, and Canada.

  • Causes:

    • Strong U.S. dollar (trips are more expensive)
    • Stricter visa enforcement—more hoops for even frequent travelers
    • Eroding sentiment: global perceptions of the U.S. have soured, impacting leisure travel

    "Sentiment… is a big one in travel... people are just not wanting to go to the United States because of the way the United States is treating or talking about their countries." (20:57, Ash Bardwaj)

  • Knock-on Effects:

    • Secondary and rural tourist destinations (Navajo Nation, Pacific Northwest, northern border states) hit hardest.
    • Domestic tourism does not compensate for loss of high-spending overseas visitors, hurting the U.S. balance of payments.

    "Tourism is actually an export industry because you're just getting foreign currency coming into your country. It's free money." (24:42, Ash Bardwaj)

  • New National Security Attitudes:

    • Legislative attempts to restrict dual citizenship reflect “primacy of American identity.”
    • Further alienates international visitors, especially from Europe.

  • Personal Note:

    • Ash misses Kennedy Space Center, the Oregon landscape, and Native American culture.

    "There’s things that only America does that well… the redwood forests in southern Oregon, northern California—some of the most remarkable landscape on Earth." (27:51, Ash Bardwaj)

Key Segment 4: Satire and Global Affairs – The FIFA Peace Prize

Andrew Muller's Satirical "What We Learned" (29:15)

• FIFA invents its own “Peace Prize,” awarding it to Donald Trump after he’s overlooked by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

• Trump’s remarks on never receiving the Nobel Peace Prize:

  "They gave it to Obama. He didn’t even know what he got it for… if it were somebody else, they would have gotten five Nobel Prizes." (29:51, Donald Trump audio)

• Parodic speculation that Trump could even rename the NFL after himself ("Trump Ball").

• Commentary on Europeans, sports, and convicted heads of state.

Key Segment 5: Culture & Design

Milanese Flair Arrives in Paris (37:32)

• Fernando Augusto Pacheco (Monocle), with Fabrizio Casiraghi (designer):

  • Casiraghi discusses designing the second St. Ambrose restaurant, bringing Milanese design sensibility (timeless, austere, elegant) to Paris.

    "If you ask a Parisian architect, what is the dream?... If you ask a Milanese, obviously it’s Santambrose." (37:32, Fabrizio Casiraghi)

  • Notes on Milanese vs. Parisian style: it’s about refined materials, sophisticated atmospheres—"not just the food, but the sexiness."

    "Sexiness can be just a way to feel better, to feel handsome, to feel beautiful, to feel good and to feel desired in a place." (41:45, Casiraghi)

Key Segment 6: The Gulf Experiments with Robo-Taxis

Automated Transport in Abu Dhabi (44:37)

• Insomn Rashid (Monocle Gulf correspondent):

  • Mercedes-Benz is launching robo-taxis (S-class, using Chinese Momenta software) in Abu Dhabi.

  • UAE’s infrastructure and openness make it an ideal test-bed; officials cut through “red tape” and court foreign talent and tech investment.

    "The UAE is just a place where they just get stuff done... safely as well, they manage to pass all the safety checks, but they just work faster and quicker." (47:16, Insomn Rashid)

  • The Gulf is rapidly becoming a stage for collaborative projects between Chinese tech, Western automakers, and local authorities, often free from political constraints seen elsewhere.

    "There’s an opportunity here… it’s arms open, come to the UAE, come and test your product here, come and work with us..." (49:38, Insomn Rashid)

  • On the horizon: Etihad Rail (connecting all seven emirates), flying taxis, increased regional mobility.

Key Segment 7: Swiss Yodeling Receives UNESCO Recognition

Alpine Heritage Goes Global (53:22)

• Melanie Oesch (Swiss yodeler):

  • Swiss yodeling now listed as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

  • More than 12,000 in Switzerland are part of the yodeling association.

  • Yodeling is both deeply traditional and open to innovation (“tongue yodeling” as an example).

    "Yodeling is so connecting, it’s so positive and it has such a good feeling and such good vibes. Yes, it’s a tradition, but it’s also more than that." (55:08, Melanie Oesch)

  • Host Tom attempts his own yodel with enthusiastic encouragement and tips from Melanie.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S. unpredictability in Venezuela:

  "Trump’s foreign policy pronouncements... are quite erratic, they’re quite hard to predict. He’s very volatile in terms of his decision making..." (08:36, Tom Edwards)

• On Portugal’s strike:

  "This has been described as the biggest regression in terms of labour rights since the democratic process after the revolution..." (15:48, Carlota Rebelo)

• On dwindling U.S. tourism:

  "Part of that [decline] really is this sentiment of… we thought America was our ally. Now you’re being rude about us and treating us badly. Why are we going to go and spend our money with you?" (23:00, Ash Bardwaj)

• On Milanese design in Paris:

  "If you come from Milan, you don’t have an Italian DNA in terms of aesthetic but you have a very Milanese one." (40:27, Fabrizio Casiraghi)

• On the global value of yodeling:

  "For me, the power and the energy of yodel is the same... it’s a very good push for everyone, I think. It’s also a connecting thing." (53:22, Melanie Oesch)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S.-Venezuela oil tanker story begins: 02:01
• Ed Stocker interview & deep dive: 02:55–12:13
• Portugal general strike coverage: 13:14–18:37
• U.S. tourism downturn: 19:49–28:49
• Andrew Muller’s satirical round-up: 29:15–36:28
• Sant’Ambrose Paris: 37:32–43:48
• Abu Dhabi robo-taxis: 44:37–51:25
• Swiss yodeling segment: 53:22–58:47

Takeaways

• The U.S. escalation against Venezuela marks a dangerous phase, with Trump’s unpredictability generating regional anxiety and global economic ripples.
• Portugal’s sweeping general strike demonstrates public pushback against labor deregulation in a European context increasingly protective of workers' rights.
• The U.S. tourism sector faces both practical (policy, economics) and reputational hurdles, with international sentiment shifting notably.
• The Gulf region is accelerating as a global sandbox for transportation technology, leveraging openness and ambition.
• European cultural dialogue flourishes, from Milan–to–Paris design stories to the embrace and innovation of Alpine traditions like yodeling.

This episode underlines The Globalist’s trademark breadth, shifting seamlessly from breaking geopolitical news and business trends to incisive cultural reporting, offering listeners a truly global perspective with both gravitas and wit.