Podcast Summary: The Globalist

Episode: Trump pushes Canada closer to China and Marine Le Pen’s trial begins
Host: Emma Nelson (Monocle Radio)
Date: January 13, 2026

Overview

This episode of "The Globalist" covers a broad range of international current affairs, dominated by Canada’s diplomatic pivot towards China in response to Donald Trump’s renewed America-first tariff policies, and the launch of Marine Le Pen's appeal against her embezzlement conviction, which could determine her eligibility for the French presidency. Additional stories include new Trump tariffs related to Iran, the growing influence of fashion houses in the film industry, AI controversies with Grok, and the management of David Bowie's legacy.

Key Discussion Points

1. Canada’s Diplomatic Reset with China

Guests:

• Isabel Hilton, founder of China Dialogue, visiting professor at King’s College London
• Kate Bolongaro, Managing Editor for Europe at MLex, former Canadian government reporter

Key Segments:

• Trump’s Tariffs and Canada’s Geopolitics
  • Trump’s hardline tariffs on trade partners have destabilized Canada-US relations (02:01–03:32).
  • Canada is seeking strategic autonomy, making China visits and closer ties a necessity.
  • “China is Canada's second largest trading partner. So you do have to contend with Beijing in any case, because of how much trade is being done...” — Kate Bolongaro (03:47)
• Why China Welcomes Carney
  • “It opens opportunities for China to restore its image as the more reasonable superpower... It's a considerable score for China that the Canadian prime minister is coming to Beijing.” — Isabel Hilton (04:29)
  • Reference to the major standoff over Huawei and reciprocal detainment of citizens.
• Canada’s Middle Power Strategy
  • Carney uses multilateralism and an outreach-first approach to diversify partnerships beyond the US and Europe (06:08–08:08).
  • “Canada wants to be seen as being a player on the international stage. It is part of the G7, and I think it wants to flex that muscle.” — Kate Bolongaro (07:19)
• China’s Economic Aims
  • China will aim to persuade Canada to remove its 100% tariff on Chinese EVs, critical for its export industry (08:34).
  • There are reciprocal tariffs affecting Canadian agricultural exports (canola).
• Long-Term Implications
  • “Carney's trying to send that signal that Canada is open for business... trying to show that there is someone else who you can discuss with in North America and showing again that Canada is independent.” — Kate Bolongaro (10:26)

2. Marine Le Pen’s Trial: The Battle for the French Presidency

Guest:

• Florence Biederman, Paris-based journalist and political analyst

Key Segments:

• Details of the Conviction
  • “She has been convicted to be at the heart of a system through which the money that was given by the European Parliament... was actually siphoned and given to the militants and the assistance of her own party...” — Florence Biederman (12:46)
• The Appeal Process & Timing
  • Appeal fast-tracked so Le Pen's eligibility for the presidency could be resolved before the election (13:39).
  • “There won't be any decision before summer. But... what's at stake is the fact that she can compete in the next presidential election.” — Florence Biederman (13:39)
• Political Fallout & Polls
  • Despite conviction, her party (National Rally) has momentum and could win if eligible; polls favorable but not definitive due to unknown contenders (15:27).
  • “Definitely her party has a momentum. It's the first party in Parliament in number of MPs. So this is the golden occasion for her.” — Florence Biederman (16:13)
• Judiciary Under Fire
  • Le Pen and other politicians have accused the courts of politicization; judge in her case has received death threats and is under protection (16:26).
• France’s Cultural Tolerance of Corruption
  • “There is a degree of tolerance in this country for corruption that is really, let's say, different than in other countries.” — Florence Biederman (18:00)

3. World and Business News Highlights

Roundtable: Charles Hecker (Russia analyst)

Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit Against BBC

• Trump claims BBC's "Panorama" coverage was misleading about his role in Jan 6, 2021 events (20:03–22:04).
• BBC argues for dismissal due to jurisdiction and lack of actual malice.
• “President Trump being one of the most public figures among public figures is virtually, you know, you could say almost anything that you want about him without… getting in trouble for it.” — Charles Hecker (22:04)

Trump’s New Tariffs on Iran-Linked Trade

• Trump threatens 25% tariffs on any country trading with Iran (mainly targeting China and India), with unclear implementation (23:07–24:41).

Perceptions of Crime in London

• Trump criticizes London’s safety; the Met Police and the Times report show crime rates are falling and London is comparatively safe (25:27–28:41).

4. Business Spotlight: Turkish Airlines’ Expansion

Guest:

• Murat Shekhar, CFO of Turkish Airlines

Key Insights:

• Despite multiple regional wars and global risks, Turkish Airlines has leveraged its Istanbul hub, scale, and flexibility to mitigate risks and remain profitable (31:35–33:53).
• Focus areas include new destinations, personalization, and increased investment in the premium segment (business class) for loyalty and profits (34:09–36:28).
• Innovations in digital booking, payment systems, and AI-driven revenue and cost optimization are driving future growth (37:54–39:35).
• “We believe personalization... is going to increase their loyalty to our brand and we do invest in that loyalty significantly.” — Murat Shekhar (35:15)

5. Tech & Media: Grok AI Controversy on X/Twitter

Guest:

• Isabel Hamilton, UK Tech Editor at Politico

Key Segments:

• Grok AI's Unintended Use
  • The Grok AI tool (owned by Elon Musk’s Xai) allowed inappropriate image editing with few guardrails, leading to widespread misuse (40:14–41:31).
• Regulatory Backlash
  • Ofcom launches investigation under the UK’s Online Safety Act; EU signals tough response with the Digital Services Act; some countries have blocked X (42:11–44:00).
• Elon Musk, Apple, and Google
  • Discussion of Apple integrating Google’s Gemini AI model; Musk warns of competition concerns (44:00–44:44).

6. Fashion and Cinema: The Rise of Luxury Brands in Film Production

Guest:

• Lily Austin, Monocle fashion producer and film buff

Highlights:

• Fashion brands like Saint Laurent are now funding and producing indie auteur films, not just providing costumes (45:32–48:36).
• This involvement is more about cultural capital than mass marketing, aligning luxury brands with artistic credibility.
• There are risks if branding overshadows the film itself (49:15–51:09).
• Collaborations extend to red carpet partnerships and are seen as mutually beneficial as both industries face financial struggles.

7. Culture: The David Bowie Legacy – Rich List and Public Exposure

Guest:

• Sophie Monaghan Coombs, Monocle Associate Editor for Culture

Discussion:

• Despite a prolific catalog, Bowie’s estate rarely appears in Forbes’ posthumous celebrity rich lists, in contrast to figures like Michael Jackson (54:26–55:39).
• The estate prioritizes quality over mass licensing; limited inclusion in pop culture (e.g., Stranger Things) hasn’t translated into massive new audience engagement.
• “There is a question about whether it is quality over quantity, and I think that is probably a good thing.” — Sophie Monaghan Coombs (55:59)
• Legacy will be sustained with museum openings and new cultural initiatives, though streaming-era discoverability remains an issue (57:18–59:06).

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “China is Canada's second largest trading partner. ...he’s able to have other options than just relying on the United States.” — Kate Bolongaro (03:47)
• “It opens opportunities for China to restore its image as the more reasonable superpower.” — Isabel Hilton (04:29)
• “Canada wants to be seen as a player on the international stage. ...It wants to flex that muscle.” — Kate Bolongaro (07:19)
• “Her strategy [Le Pen] didn’t appear to have been successful...there is a degree of tolerance in this country for corruption that is really...different than in other countries.” — Florence Biederman (18:00)
• “President Trump...is virtually, you know, you could say almost anything that you want about him without...getting in trouble for it.” — Charles Hecker (22:04)
• “We believe personalization... is going to increase their loyalty to our brand and we do invest in that loyalty significantly.” — Murat Shekhar (35:15)
• “There is a question about whether it is quality over quantity, and I think that is probably a good thing.” — Sophie Monaghan Coombs (55:59)

Important Timestamps

• 02:01: Introduction to Canada-China relations
• 03:47: Canada's China strategy
• 08:34: China’s main demands in Canada talks
• 12:46: Le Pen’s embezzlement conviction explained
• 13:39: Impact of speedy appeal, eligibility for elections
• 20:03: Trump’s lawsuit against BBC
• 23:07: Trump’s new Iran tariffs
• 31:35: Turkish Airlines risks and growth strategy
• 40:14: Grok AI controversy explained
• 45:32: Fashion brands pivot to film production
• 54:24: David Bowie’s estate and revenue legacy

Conclusion

This tightly packed episode of The Globalist navigates strategic maneuvers in geopolitics, the ramifications of populist policy and rhetoric, cultural intersections in business, technology ethics, and the evolving management of artistic legacies. Canada’s pivot to China, Marine Le Pen’s high-stakes trial, and Trump’s ongoing international provocations form the backbone of the episode, supported by lively expert analysis and careful contextualization of each unfolding story.