The Monocle Daily — "The Death of Popularity: Why Are No Politicians Liked Anymore?"

Host: Andrew Muller
Guests: Tara Kangalu (Global Affairs Journalist, Author), Simon Brook (Journalist & Communications Consultant)
Date: July 30, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the rapid decline in popularity and trust facing politicians across the West, with special focus on the UK, USA, and the broader implications for democracy worldwide. The discussion expands to current crises in Iran, generational shifts in media consumption, and the enduring appeal of classic literature. A final segment features Michael Posner, who discusses corporate moral responsibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Are Politicians So Widely Disliked?

UK: Chronic Disillusionment and Fragmentation

• Loveless Landslides: Despite a major electoral victory in 2024, Keir Starmer’s Labour is polling at only 23% approval ([05:11]), exemplifying the lack of enthusiasm and rapid post-election disillusionment among voters.
• Fragmented Politics: Traditional two-party dominance has collapsed. Polling now shows Labour, Conservatives, Reform, Greens, and new parties like Corbyn’s dividing the vote — the main parties haven’t topped 80% combined since the ‘80s.
  • Simon Brook: “There’s no…domination by the big parties. The political system, first past the post, cannot deal with that fragmentation.” ([06:15])
• Echoes Abroad: This trend toward fragmentation and voter's distrust of “mainstream politicians” plays out similarly in Europe and the US.

US: Polarization, Fragmentation, and Suppressed Discourse

• Trump’s Second Term: Tara observes the US as “the most divided ever,” with his administration tightening control ahead of 2026 midterms and both parties drifting further apart ([07:55]).
• Campus Climate: “There is a sense of fear in environments where discourse and conversation should be allowed.” — Tara ([07:55])
• Splinters in Trumpism: Some MAGA figures (e.g., Marjorie Taylor Greene calling Gaza a “genocide”) diverge from Trump's line, suggesting growing cracks ([09:55]).
• Popularity Declines: Trump’s approval is around 40%— his base remains, but the general public’s interest is waning ([10:19]).

Populism's Staying Power

• Root Causes: Disillusionment over immigration, economics (“can’t afford a house”), and political dishonesty fuels far-right gains — “Populism is alive and well and it's going to continue…just evolving.” — Simon ([11:38])
• Global Reflection: Recent right-wing gains in Japan underscore populism’s international reach.

2. Iran’s Water Crisis: A Catastrophe Exposed

• Severity: Iran is “a bankrupt country when it comes to water,” facing catastrophic shortages, not just seasonal inconveniences ([13:23]).
• Mismanagement and Repression: The public blames regime cronyism and poor infrastructure management, not just drought. The regime acknowledges the crisis, which Tara says means it’s beyond “the red line” ([13:23]).
• Human Toll: Factories are shut down, daily life disrupted. Electricity outages leave even professionals unable to work. “People are bearing the brunt.” ([13:23])
• Suppressed Activism: Activists are jailed, protests over water in places like Khuzestan are “brutally squashed.” Yet, the crisis is “breaking the back of people. They are digging their own grave.” — Tara quoting an Iranian woman ([19:16])
  • Quote: “It is the end of this system because it cannot continue.” ([19:16])
• International Response: US State Department blames regime greed and corruption, but Simon questions if such communication sways public opinion ([16:32]).

3. Generational Battles: Youth, Media, and Regulation

The Changing Nature of Media Consumption

• Explosion of YouTube: Unlike earlier generations who had limited, state-determined viewing options, today’s youth turn to YouTube and on-demand content ([21:47]).
• Democratization of Media: “Anyone can be a presenter… you no longer need the approval of editors or programmers.” — Simon ([21:47])
• Contrast with the Past: Both Simon and Tara recount the scarcity of television choices growing up, Tara referencing illicit satellite TV in Iran and the prevalence of VPNs ([24:04]).

Censorship, Regulation, and Parental Responsibility

• UK’s New Age Verification: As tech regulation rises, VPN downloads surge as young people circumvent restrictions ([20:47]).
• Australia to Ban Under-16s from Social Media: Reflects global anxieties over youth online exposure.
• Regulation vs. Parental Control:
  • Tara: “I’m not a fan of censorship…I do believe it starts at home.” ([24:04])
  • There’s skepticism about governmental ability to effectively or appropriately regulate such a diverse, on-demand media environment.

Quality and Fact-Checking

• Professional vs. User Content: Simon argues for professional, legal fact-checked journalism, but acknowledges that high-quality content can be found on both mainstream and alternative digital channels ([26:57]).

4. Enduring Appeal of Classic Literature — Jane Austen’s Comeback

• Sales Surge: Jane Austen sold 78,000 books in the first half of 2025 — her best showing since 2009 ([28:15]).
• Why the Boom?
  • Tara: Readers seek “escapism, wisdom, and depth — things missing from our frantic, shallow existential digital lives.” ([29:04])
  • “There is a danger…in a society that does not have depth or wisdom.”
  • Simon: Austen’s work provides “universally appealing, flawed characters and long-form reading as a meditative counter to modern life.” ([30:58])
• Memorable Quote — Tara ([32:05]):
  • “‘You must be the best judge of your own happiness.’ And I think that’s what we all want…at a time when the speed of life and information is so fast that we don’t have a moment to reflect.”

5. Interview: Michael Posner on Corporate Ethics and Conscience

Can Businesses Have Principles as Well as Profits?

• Core Argument: Many companies choose “outsourcing responsibility” to avoid the costs and risks of engaging in ethical labor practices.
  • “There are costs to doing it the right way…For a lot of companies, it’s better to keep your head down.” — Michael Posner ([33:56])
• Data Gaps: Companies “keep lots of data on profits,” but almost none on their actual impact on workers and communities ([35:02]).
• Limits of Regulation:
  • “Regulations alone will never be sufficient…Companies need to be actively involved in moderating content, improving labor standards, etc.” ([36:07])
• Tech Industry’s Resistance: Tech giants, driven by engagement and profit, have little incentive to clean up their platforms unless regulated with real financial penalties ([37:11], [38:31]).
• Hopeful Signs: EU’s Digital Services Act cited as a lever for change, suggesting progress will come from sustained government pressure in combination with corporate engagement ([38:31]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Political Fragmentation: “It’s a problem in the UK, but certainly that fragmentation, that dislike, distrust of mainstream politicians is something we’re seeing across the world.” — Simon Brook ([06:15])
• On the Human Toll in Gaza: “We are looking at a population of deeply educated, vibrant individuals who are now reduced to, quite frankly, beggars.” — Tara Kangalu ([04:00])
• On Discourse in the US: “There is a sense of fear in environments where discourse and conversation should be allowed.” — Tara ([07:55])
• On Water Crisis as a Breaking Point: “They are digging their own grave. And those are her words.” — Tara, quoting resident of Isfahan ([19:16])
• On Enduring Literature: “You must be the best judge of your own happiness.” — Jane Austen, cited by Tara ([32:05])
• On Corporate Responsibility: “If you’re not more transparent…there are going to be costs to you that are meaningful, even how big you are. Government needs to kick these companies in the pants…” — Michael Posner ([38:31])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:11] — UK political fragmentation and declining approval ratings
• [07:55] — US: Student discourse, Trumpist splintering
• [13:23] — Iran's catastrophic water crisis and regime mismanagement
• [19:16] — The regime’s response and potential for popular uprising
• [21:47] — Generational changes in television and on-demand content
• [24:04] — Debating censorship, parental responsibility, and content regulation
• [28:15] — Jane Austen’s 2025 sales surge and cultural resonance
• [32:05] — Quoting Jane Austen on happiness and reflection
• [33:56] — Michael Posner on corporate profits vs. principles
• [36:07] — The limits of law and regulation alone in tech and business ethics
• [38:31] — How the EU is pushing companies to do better

Conclusion

This episode deftly weaves together global political unease, social transformation, and individual yearnings for meaning and leadership amid chaotic change. Through sharp analysis and evocative personal stories, The Monocle Daily panel points to both the profound malaise afflicting modern democracies and the ways citizens and corporations might fight back — whether through activism, regulation, classic wisdom, or simply refusing to accept the status quo.