The Monocle Daily – February 11, 2026

Main Theme:
Should Ukraine hold elections during wartime?
Host: Emma Nelson
Guests: Daniela Pellet (Institute for War and Peace Reporting), Ben Kelly (Newsweek)
Format: A discussion on headline news, deeper dives into major world events, and lighter cultural segments.

1. Ukraine: Should Elections Proceed in Wartime?

Segment starts at 13:07

Context

• Background: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will soon enter its fifth year; rumors circulate about elections being called in Ukraine, but Kyiv has denied them.
• Key Issue: Can genuine democratic processes take place under martial law and continued conflict?

Key Discussion Points

• Can Elections Happen?

  • Daniela Pellet [14:01]:
    “The idea that you can hold elections under these circumstances has got so many, so many issues to it. Legal, practical, I mean, can you do it?”
    • Martial law makes basic polling logistics impossible.
    • Huge millions-strong Ukrainian diaspora complicates electoral inclusion.
    • Voting for occupied territories is an unresolved issue.
    • Technological solutions like online/postal voting are vulnerable to hacking and Russian interference.
    • The government must constantly strategize for legitimacy and consensus.

• Why the Pressure?

  • Emma Nelson [18:26]:
    “One wonders where the pressure is coming from. … The Ukrainians themselves have had to see their president go from war hero to man, battling internal corruption among his closest. And then also the United States.”
    • Russia and critics label Zelenskyy as illegitimate due to delayed elections.
    • The US may be pushing for a “reset” in Ukraine’s political leadership.
    • The question remains: even if elections could be held, would they solve these authentication and legitimacy issues?

• Zelenskyy’s Dilemma

  • Ben Kelly [16:32]:
    “You can’t have someone who then doesn’t agree with [the peace deal]. So elections all on the same day doesn’t seem like it’s going to be, you know, something that works.”
    • Any peace deal is likely to require a referendum.
    • Whoever is president must credibly implement such a deal.

• Long-Term Considerations

  • Ukraine will have to contend with displaced populations, returning refugees, and hybrid (especially informational) warfare when elections are eventually held.

Notable Quotes

• Daniela Pellet [14:01]:
  “Our Ukrainian team is astonishing. You know, they’re working under the most ridiculous conditions from houses that have got no windows because they’ve been blown out in bomb strikes, freezing cold conditions, mid displacement amid trauma… But life is not normal.”

• Ben Kelly [16:32]:
  “There’s the need for fresh elections… and then there’s the issue of Zelenskyy himself… if there’s a peace deal and it’s put to a referendum… you’ve then also got to have a president who’s going to take that forward.”

2. Canada’s School Shooting: National Identity in Crisis

Segment starts at 03:42

Context

• Incident: A rare, tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, leaves 9 dead and 25 injured.
• Shock Factor: Town known for its safety (“never locks its doors”), multiplying sense of horror and national numbness.

Key Discussion Points

• National Reaction

  • Daniela Pellet [07:18]:
    “There is a script… there’s an expectation that everyone will follow, including the media. … But there is also a genuine emotional reaction no matter how cynical you are.”
    • Reference to previous British tragedies and collective mourning rituals (e.g., 7/7 attacks, COVID lockdown).
    • Importance of shared acts and ritual in societal healing.
  • Ben Kelly [09:03]:
    “Canada is much closer to a different phrase that comes to mind which is kind of a this is not who we are…”
    • Suggests that exceptional events prompt reaffirmation of national values.

• Contrast with US Mass Shootings

  • Canadian reactions distinct from American routines (e.g., “thoughts and prayers”).
  • The rarity of such attacks in Canada breeds both disbelief and demands for reflection/action.

• Political Responses

  • Canadian PM Mark Carney cancels international trip to remain in-country, described as “a human one or a Canadian one” rather than political.
  • On absent US condolences:
    “Notably absent is the leader of Canada’s large neighbor, President Donald Trump…” [05:05]

• Gun Reform Reflection

  • References to 2020 gun law changes in Canada paralleling Australia and UK reforms.
  • Question poised: what further can be done?

Notable Quotes

• Thomas Lewis (Toronto correspondent) [03:49]:
  “It feels that a very profound change has befallen a town of about 2,400 people, built in the early 1980s for a big mining operation that was founded there…”

• Emma Nelson [10:57]:
  “By commemorating them as something unusual, you’re also saying this is a problem and this is an issue that we have to [address].”

3. Netanyahu’s Washington Visit & US-Iran Relations

Segment starts at 19:19

Context

• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington, trying to influence Donald Trump’s stance on Iran and Middle East diplomacy.
• Ongoing legal and political troubles for Netanyahu at home.

Key Discussion Points

• Objectives

  • Daniela Pellet [19:47]:
    “Netanyahu will surprise no one here wants Trump to take a maximalist view of this. … His shopping list is long. And it’s unclear whether President Trump has got the patience to read to the bottom of it.”
  • Netanyahu seeks no compromise on Iran; wants aggressive stance, no nuclear deal, no proxy support for militias.

• Trump’s Nature & Priorities

  • Ben Kelly [21:28]:
    “He famously told the Norwegians just about three weeks ago, I’m finished with peace now, because you didn’t give me that prize…”
    • Unpredictability of Trump could swing between threats and seeking praise for peace.

• Netanyahu’s Weakened Position

  • Daniela Pellet [22:07]:
    “He’s due in court. There’s going to be elections. He’s really not popular… Trump is going to see that… this guy is not necessarily my best ally.”
    • Netanyahu relies on an image of ‘standing up to the world’ but is politically vulnerable and under investigation.
    • Trump may not have infinite patience for Israel’s maximalist demands, especially re: Gaza reconstruction.

4. Winter Olympics: Athlete’s Cringe-Worthy On-Air Confession

Segment starts at 25:06

Context

• Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Lægreid uses post-race interview to confess both to cheating on his girlfriend and to ask her to take him back, overshadowing his teammate’s gold medal.

Panel Reactions

• Emma Nelson [25:50]:
  “30 toes have just curled and fingers. Oh, goodness me.”
• Daniela Pellet [26:28]:
  “[It’s] not… tinged with romance… actually thinking about Cosi fan tutte [where]… patriarchal move of…”
• Ben Kelly [27:31]:
  “You know, I might say a word in his defense… There’s something sweet in this … At least here he’s only wasting his own time.”

Discussion

• Is public romance at the expense of others ever appropriate?
• Does this cement Lægreid’s reputation for years to come—for better or worse?
• The panel lightly discusses their own “cringe” public confessions, keeping the chat playful and self-deprecating.

5. Industrial Design Feature: Interview with Edward Barber

Segment starts at 32:34

Context

• Interview: Ed Stocker speaks with Edward Barber (Barber Osgerby design studio) in Milan about creativity, Italian design collaborations, and the London 2012 Olympic torch.

Key Insights

• Collaboration:
  • Projects vary: sometimes initiated by the designer, sometimes by manufacturers (e.g., Sony, Royal Mint).
  • Each project unique; "We’re like the sort of conductor and they’re the orchestra." [33:14]
• Italian Design Scene:
  • Early break came via Italian company Cappellini in 1997.
  • Milan’s furniture show as a hub for international creative contacts.
  • Lunches and relationships play a big role (“preferred working with Italians because the lunches were better” [35:32])
• On Olympics Torch:
  • Competition won “because it had a nice story”—8,000 perforations representing 8,000 torch bearers.
  • Personal highlight was seeing the torch enter the Olympic arena.

Notable Quotes

• Edward Barber [34:09]:
  “We’re the designers with the name at the end, you know, get the credit. But you know, you’re always working with a really incredible team of people…”

• Edward Barber [38:05]:
  “Watching the torch enter the arena at the opening ceremony, which is certainly a moment in my career that I won’t forget.”

Notable Quotes and Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Canada’s shock:
  • Emma Nelson [05:56]: “This is not a story that you expect to come from Canada.”
• On election practicality in Ukraine:
  • Daniela Pellet [14:51]: “You have millions of people who’ve left. … Online and postal voting has incredible vulnerabilities when it comes to fraud.”
• On Trump-Netanyahu dynamics:
  • Daniela Pellet [22:07]: “When is he not due in court? … He’s really not popular.”
• On Olympic cringe confession:
  • Emma Nelson [25:50]: “30 toes have just curled and fingers. Oh, goodness me.”
  • Daniela Pellet [26:28]: “It’s that kind of, you know, Neanderthal and sort of patriarchal move…”

Structure Recap

1. Serious news: Canadian shooting and social response.
2. Foreign affairs focus: Ukraine elections, legitimacy under war, peace/refugee complications.
3. Middle East politics: Netanyahu’s US visit and Iran.
4. Lighter moments: Olympic athlete’s public relationship confession.
5. Culture/design: Interview with influential industrial designer in Milan.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Canada mass shooting: 03:42–13:07
• Ukraine’s elections under fire: 13:07–19:19
• Netanyahu in Washington: 19:19–25:06
• Olympic confession: 25:06–29:35
• Personal confessions and panel banter: 29:35–31:58
• Design feature (Barber interview): 32:34–38:22

Tone and Style

• Topical, sharp, and international in outlook, with moments of wry humor.
• Mix of hard news analysis, reflection on national identity, lighter human interest, and cultural insights.
• The hosts and guests maintain a conversational, intelligent, and approachable style.

This episode offers a nuanced look at the difficulties of holding democratic elections during war, collective mourning after national tragedies, complex international diplomacy, and the human foibles revealed on the world’s sports stage—all rounded off with a celebration of design and creative partnerships.