The Monocle Daily — Episode Summary

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Andrew Muller
Guests: Elizabeth Braw (Atlantic Council), Yossi Mekelberg (Chatham House)
Main Themes: Venezuela's UN appeal over US military presence, Australia’s response to hate speech after a terror attack, the housing crisis in the EU, and some lighthearted festive economics.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into several key global issues: Venezuela's call for UN Security Council intervention over US naval aggression; Australia's tightening approach to hate speech following antisemitic violence; the EU's new affordable housing strategy amid rising costs and political tensions; and, closing on a lighter note, debates over the fairness of Santa’s and elves’ wages. The panel delivers sharp, informed commentary throughout, with an international perspective, balanced by dry wit and seasonal references.

1. Venezuela vs. US: Naval Stand-Off and the UN Security Council

[02:45 – 11:13]

Discussion Points

• Venezuela’s Move: The panel examines Venezuela’s request for a UN Security Council session regarding a US naval build-up off its coast, ostensibly driven by ongoing sanctions, oil smuggling crackdowns, and aggressive rhetoric from President Donald Trump ([02:45]).
• Legal and Strategic Dimensions: Elizabeth highlights the legal ambiguity of US actions and Venezuela’s limited yet plausible grounds at the UN, given international maritime law. She details Venezuela’s economic reliance on sanctioned oil exports and the role of “shadow fleets.”
  Quote – Elizabeth Braw [04:10]:
  “They [shadow fleets] risk being inspected and detained, but they have the right, like every other vessel, to traverse the world’s oceans… the US actions… are not exactly fully compliant with international law.”
• UNSC Politics: Yossi argues that much of the UN Security Council process is “performative,” noting likely US vetoes and comparing it to past patterns, such as US actions against Cuba and the Monroe Doctrine’s continued legacy.
  Quote – Yossi Mekelberg [06:03]:
  “At the end of the day, international law, the way the main powers behave, is basically dead... We’ll get another empty rhetoric and that’s what the UN ends: another performance.”
• Risk of Escalation: The panel debates whether the US risks having to “do something” due to the scale of its naval presence, or whether it can dial down tension by claiming a limited objective has been achieved ([07:51 – 09:48]).
• Public Appetite: Yossi is skeptical of US enthusiasm for conflict with Venezuela—citing polling data and public disinterest. In his view, US priorities lie elsewhere, and talking regime change often backfires by strengthening the targeted regime.
  Quote – Yossi Mekelberg [10:27]:
  “No, there is no appetite in the United States... Venezuela is not any meaning[ful] threat... The appetite is not there.”

2. Hate Speech, Social Media, and Political Violence in Australia

[11:13 – 20:29]

Discussion Points

• Context: After a fatal antisemitic attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia’s Prime Minister is under pressure to clamp down on hate speech following warnings from Jewish community leaders ([11:13]).
• Global Pattern: Yossi notes rising antisemitism not just in Australia but across Europe and America, adding that Islamophobia and other forms of hate are also spreading. Political violence, he stresses, is never justified.
  Quote – Yossi Mekelberg [12:25]:
  “We have a problem in society... how we deal with the others in society. Instead of reducing the flames, there are those who actually thrive on increasing them.”
• Legislation vs. Definition: Elizabeth recalls a Danish rabbi’s call for a societal “social contract” on conduct, lamenting that social media companies profit from outrage and are slow to moderate hate speech ([14:57]).
  Quote – Elizabeth Braw [15:20]:
  “Social media platforms are always slow and sluggish in policing dangerous and offensive behaviour online simply because they make money not by moderation and people saying nice things, they make money by people saying outrageous things.”
• Regulating Platforms: Andrew and Yossi debate why governments don’t force platforms to act (“clean this up or you’re out of business”), with Yossi acknowledging the difficulty of balancing legitimate debate with prevention of incitement.
  Quote – Yossi Mekelberg [17:06]:
  “There is a real issue: what is the line between freedom of speech... and what is completely out of bound and shouldn’t be.”
• Limits of Laws: Elizabeth argues for the importance of fostering empathy and social responsibility, emphasizing the need to encourage thoughtfulness before speaking or acting hatefully ([19:18]). Quote – Elizabeth Braw [19:18]:
  “It starts somewhere completely different. It’s by leading personalities reminding our fellow citizens that they should look at whatever they say from other people’s perspective... We can learn from kindergarteners who are still taught this.”

3. Europe’s Housing Crisis: The EU’s Affordable Housing Plan

[20:29 – 24:50]

Discussion Points

• The Problem: Housing costs have soared 60% in a decade, while incomes stagnate, prompting the EU Commission’s first affordable housing plan—promising more public investment, clamping down on short-term rentals (Airbnb), and deregulating construction.
• Panel Analysis: Yossi welcomes intervention, recalling when London homes were within reach on one or two salaries, and urges for a return to public housing.
  Quote – Yossi Mekelberg [21:27]:
  “Bring back public housing... It’s a losing game for [young people] from the very beginning.”
• Political Risks: Elizabeth points to the political polarization housing stress creates, as extremist parties blame migrants for shortages; she singles out regulation of short-term lets as a promising step.
  Quote – Elizabeth Braw [23:16]:
  “That is the script that certain politicians will use if prices continue to be high... The ambition to crack down on short-term rentals... is what’s really taking housing away...”

4. The Festive Economy: Are Santa and Elves Underpaid?

[24:50 – 28:54]

Discussion Points

• The Data: Department store Father Christmases earn ~£15/hour, with elves somewhat less, though elf pay has risen slightly since last year.
• Debate: The panel muses over wage fairness, with Elizabeth facetiously invoking “Santi claus” as the grammatically correct plural, and wondering what Karl Marx would say.
  Quote – Elizabeth Braw [25:35]:
  “Why is it that the elves who do equal work... work extremely hard... should get paid less? And I wonder what Karl Marx would say about that.”
• Job Prospects: Yossi jokes that Santa’s job is not lucrative enough for his career change, while Andrew questions tipping etiquette. There’s consensus: “I’d want to see a zero on the end of that 15 before I even think about it,” quips Andrew ([28:07]).

5. Letter from... Magdeburg to Sydney: On Healing After Terrorism

[29:10 – 33:40]

Key Segment:

• Correspondent Blake Mat compares the recovery of Magdeburg, Germany, after a vehicle attack at a Christmas market, to Sydney's present situation following terror at Bondi Beach.
• He evokes scenes of resilience, legal process, and a determination by locals not to let violence undermine community traditions.
• The piece closes with hope that Sydney, like Magdeburg, will reclaim its spaces and spirit through justice and togetherness, not rhetoric. Quote – Blake Mat [33:20]:
  “The people of Magdeburg are not letting fear and hatred hollow out their community spirit... From here it’s possible to imagine what Sydney might look like a year from now... to restore order from confusion... through justice, ritual and coming together.”

Memorable Quotes by Timestamp

• On the UN and US Power:
  “At the end of the day... the way that the main powers behave is basically dead.”
  — Yossi Mekelberg [06:03]

• On Social Media and Hate Speech:
  “They make money by people saying outrageous things...”
  — Elizabeth Braw [15:20]

• On Defining Hate Speech:
  “There is a real issue: what is the line between freedom of speech... and what is completely out of bound and shouldn’t be.”
  — Yossi Mekelberg [17:06]

Episode Tone & Style

The discussion blends sober, informed analysis with flashes of humor and personality. The panel frequently references international law, recent history, and their own experiences, while Andrew guides the conversation with dry wit. Seasonal references (Santa’s wage gap) add levity between weightier discussions.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Venezuela & UN Security Council Discussion: [02:45 – 11:13]
• Australia & Hate Speech: [11:13 – 20:29]
• EU Housing Crisis: [20:29 – 24:50]
• Santa’s Wage Gap: [24:50 – 28:54]
• Letter from Magdeburg (Correspondent): [29:10 – 33:40]

Summary Takeaways

This episode showcases the Monocle Daily’s global perspective: blending foreign affairs, domestic debates, and cultural reflections into a brisk, engaging package. Panelists challenge political grandstanding, urge for thoughtful regulation of speech, and warn of the socioeconomic roots of political extremism—all punctuated by good-natured banter about the fate of Father Christmas. The episode closes with a poignant dispatch reminding listeners of both the shadow and resilience that follow public tragedies.