The Monocle Daily — October 24, 2025

Host: Andrew Muller
Guests: Tomas Lewis, Leila Mollarna Alan, Julia Jenn, Sophie Monaghan Combs

Episode Overview

This episode of The Monocle Daily dives into the sudden halt of US-Canada trade negotiations after President Trump reacts to a critical Ontario ad, the ongoing uncertainty in Gaza, and highlights from the November issue of Monocle magazine. Insightful correspondence from Monocle’s regional experts and a segment from Art Basel Paris round out a sharp, eclectic review of today’s news.

1. Trump Terminates US-Canada Trade Negotiations

Main Segment: [00:37–09:16]

Key Discussion Points:

• Triggering Event: President Trump abruptly ends talks with Canada after an Ontario provincial TV ad criticizes US tariffs, using Ronald Reagan’s words from a 1987 broadcast—without the Reagan Foundation’s permission.
• Ontario’s Political Calculus: Ontario Premier Doug Ford, known as “Canada’s Trump,” pushes the combative ad as part of his populist style and ongoing criticism of Trump-imposed tariffs. The ad reworks Reagan’s words, missing original context about Reagan’s own tariffs on Japan.
• Reagan Foundation’s Reaction: Legal threats by the Reagan Foundation over unauthorized use of Reagan’s 1987 remarks.
• Federal Fallout: Trump penalizes the national Canadian government over a provincial action, blindsiding Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had been forging positive rapport with Trump.
• Carney’s Response: Staying measured and focused on “controlling what we can control,” Carney redirects efforts towards Asia, potentially seeking new trade partnerships.
• Impact on Canadian Economy:
  • Auto sector disruption due to complex US-Canada supply chains.
  • Ban on American alcohol in Ontario and shifts in tourism patterns, with more Canadians vacationing domestically.
  • Government support rolled out to affected industries.

Notable Quotes:

• “Trump has declared an immediate cessation of trade talks with Canada, only America’s second biggest trading [partner]. So no worries there.”
  — Andrew Muller [00:38]
• “The issue here with this ad, Andrew, is that it doesn’t seem as though the Ontario government asked for permission to use this excerpt of a 1987 radio broadcast by Ronald Reagan...”
  — Tomas Lewis [02:12]
• “Mark Carney…has managed to keep a cool head publicly while keeping language fairly sharp. He has become quite famous for the phrase: controlling what we can control in Canada.”
  — Tomas Lewis [04:13]
• “It makes it quite hard for Canadians…to have these very warm words and images towards their leader on one side, and then these acts that seem, at best, erratic…like this announcement that Donald Trump made on Truth Social last night.”
  — Tomas Lewis [06:25]
• “Canada is ready to start talking again when America is ready.”
  — Tomas Lewis [08:48]

Timestamps:

• Trump’s Outrage and Context: 00:37–03:55
• Carney’s Position and Media Perception: 03:55–07:23
• Impact on Canadian Sectors: 07:23–09:16

2. Gaza’s Ceasefire and Uneasy Future

Segment: [09:16–18:30]

Key Discussion Points:

• Journalistic Access: Foreign press access to Gaza remains tightly restricted, only permitted via Israeli military embeds with severe limitations. The Supreme Court gives Israeli authorities 30 days to justify continued restrictions post-ceasefire.
• Trust Gap: Deep mistrust in Western media among Palestinians, especially in the West Bank, where latest abuses and displacement have gone underreported.
• West Bank Turmoil:
  • Reports of collective punishment, abuse of prisoners, destruction of refugee camps, and settler violence.
  • Checkpoint systems intensified, travel and commerce more restricted.
• Focus on Marwan Barghouti:
  • His son Arab Barghouti discusses the symbolic hope he represents for a unified Palestinian leadership and state.
  • Marwan Barghouti remains imprisoned despite widespread expectation of his release in the ceasefire deal; reports of recent abuse while in custody set off further tensions.
  • Speculation over Trump’s interest in calling for Barghouti's release.
• Palestinian Sentiment: Widespread frustration and belief that Israel’s government discourages genuine peace negotiation by sidelining credible Palestinian leaders.

Notable Quotes:

• “We can go up to the border with Gaza, but only ever entering Gaza in an embed with the Israeli military, something that has not happened now in months.”
  — Leila Malana Alan [10:07]
• “People in the West Bank feel completely ignored, particularly by this idea that the situation is somehow over [after the ceasefire], when in fact none of the issues…have been tackled in any way.”
  — Leila Malana Alan [14:37]
• "[Marwan Barghouti] is really the one man…Palestinians continuously vote for as their most popular candidate for a leader who could unite them and could lead them towards statehood..."
  — Leila Malana Alan [15:44]
• “They moved him [Barghouti] to a different jail…and beat him senseless…not given treatment after that…People are also incredibly concerned.”
  — Leila Malana Alan [17:03]

Timestamps:

• Press Access and Legal Battle: 09:16–12:07
• West Bank Human Rights Crisis: 12:07–15:27
• Marwan Barghouti’s Story: 15:27–18:30

3. Monocle Magazine’s November Issue

Segment: [19:12–26:31]

Key Discussion Points:

• Poland’s Rearmament: Julia Jenn reports on Poland’s transformation since the Ukraine crisis, its massive investments in defense and partnerships (notably with South Korea).
• Eastern vs. Western European Approaches: Poland and neighbors act, Western Europe talks; Poland’s civil defense efforts stand out.
• Poland-Ukraine Relationship: Polish adoption of Ukrainian military lessons (particularly drone defense), tensions concerning Ukrainian refugees, and concerns over civil communication in crisis.
• Feature on Rebecca Bay (Marimekko): Jenn discusses Bay’s creative process and Copenhagen’s daily life, emphasizing a humanizing, personal touch to brand leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• “What they’re involved in instead of…negotiating this, talking this, hashing details…is actually doing things. They’re building things, they’re buying things, they’re solidifying their kind of defenses on their eastern flanks.”
  — Julia Jenn [20:38]
• “Our airports have been massively disrupted by drones…Poland is now open to [Ukrainian training] and they actually want to deploy Polish soldiers into Ukraine to shoot down Russian drones.”
  — Julia Jenn [24:13]
• “She is not a morning person. And it’s such a rarity.”
  — Julia Jenn, on Rebecca Bay [25:47]
• “Morning people are the worst.”
  — Andrew Muller [25:57]

Timestamps:

• Magazine Preview and Polish Rearmament: 19:12–23:16
• Poland’s Defense Lessons from Ukraine: 23:16–25:02
• Rebecca Bay Profile: 25:20–26:31

4. Art Basel Paris: Bridget Riley at Musée d'Orsay

Segment: [27:30–31:16]

Key Discussion Points:

• Bridget Riley’s French Inspiration: New exhibition explores how French Pointillist Georges Seurat inspired Riley’s development of her signature abstraction style. Riley’s bold curatorial decisions for the show, including juxtaposing her works with Seurat’s iconic “Le Cirque.”
• Reframing Riley’s Influence: The exhibition aims to reposition Riley as a Post-Impressionist peer, not just an abstract pioneer or “woman painter.”

Notable Quotes:

• “Seurat was her promise for the future…[She] saw in his work something of possibility for her to find her own voice…”
  — Nicola Gusron [27:40]
• “At 94 years old, I can tell you that she knows very precisely what she wants.”
  — Nicola Gusron [28:44]
• “At the Musée d'Orsay, she [Riley] is first and foremost a post-impressionist—she has learned from Seurat and created her own works.”
  — Nicola Gusron [30:45]

Timestamps:

• Origins of Riley’s Style: 27:30–28:29
• Curatorial Choices and Exhibition Design: 28:44–30:12
• Exhibition’s Message: 30:12–31:16

5. What We Learned This Week (Weekly Satirical Wrap)

Segment: [31:16–37:55]

Key Discussion Points & Satirical Insights:

• Marines’ Artillery Mishap: Celebrating the US Marine Corps’ 250th with live artillery fire over a civilian highway, leading to shrapnel hitting VP J.D. Vance’s motorcade—despite California Governor Newsom’s objections.
  “We learned this week that firing live artillery rounds over a civilian highway is a bad idea. Oh, that blows my mind.”
  — Andrew Muller [31:44]
• Trump’s AI Video Antics: Trump posts a video of himself as a crown-wearing pilot dropping sewage on protestors, infuriating artist Kenny Loggins (whose “Danger Zone” was used without consent).
• Political Double Standards: Satirical reflection on how outrage is selectively applied to partisan behavior.
• Demolition at the White House: Trump apparently demolishes the East Wing to build a ballroom, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte present for the unveiling—serving as a metaphor for the upheaval in US politics.
  “President Trump remained as determined as ever to spare the rest of us the hassle of coming up with our own metaphor for swinging the wrecking ball at the White House.”
  — Andrew Muller [38:02]

Timestamps:

• Marine Corps Celebration & Mishap: 31:16–33:37
• Trump’s AI Video & Kenny Loggins’ Protest: 33:37–35:33
• Satirical Political Reflection & Fillmore Chorus: 35:33–37:24
• White House Ballroom Metaphor: 37:55–38:02

Memorable Moments

• [01:59] Tomas Lewis on Ontario’s motivations: “Ontario…is helmed by Doug Ford…sort of been characterized in some ways as Canada’s answer to Donald Trump. He’s conservative, he’s a populist.”
• [17:03] Leila Malana Alan on Barghouti: “The guards took him to an unknown location and beat him senseless…he was not given treatment after that.”
• [21:28] Julia Jenn quoting a Polish politician: “‘We have absolutely had it with being invaded,’ was his line.”
• [25:57] Andrew Muller laments, with tongue-in-cheek: “Morning people are the worst.”
• [31:44] Andrew Muller, deadpan: “We learned this week that firing live artillery rounds over a civilian highway is a bad idea. Oh, that blows my mind.”
• [38:02] Satirical note on the White House destruction: “President Trump remained as determined as ever to spare the rest of us the hassle of coming up with our own metaphor for swinging the wrecking ball at the White House.”

Conclusion

This well-rounded episode delivers sharp transatlantic analysis, from the idiosyncrasies of North American politics to the lingering shadows over Gaza and new European security realities. The episode is punctuated by humor, vivid reporting, and a dive into culture—demonstrating Monocle’s trademark mix of sobriety, wit, and internationalism.