Podcast Summary: The Monocle Daily

Episode Title: Why the world increasingly considers the US a threat. Plus: Politics versus sport at the Olympics
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Georgina Godwin
Guests: Tira Schubart (Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Ambassador for the Science Museum), Jonathan Fenby (journalist, author, former editor of the South China Morning Post)
Special Segment: Interview with Yanis X Haros, CEO of the Olympic Broadcasting Service

Overview

This episode of The Monocle Daily examines why global trust in the United States as a reliable partner is eroding—especially in Europe—amid rising international tensions and the second Trump administration. The panel also explores the complexities of politics at the 2026 Winter Olympics, scrutinizing the ban on a Ukrainian athlete's memorial gesture, and considers how political leaders are using new media channels, such as podcasts, to reach voters.
The episode closes with an insider’s look into the behind-the-scenes operations of Olympic broadcasting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Europe’s Strategic Reassessment & the Waning Trust in the US

(03:02–10:38)

• Backdrop: Ahead of the Munich Security Conference, new polling reveals a rise in Europeans—and citizens of emerging economies—who see the US as a “threat” to their countries’ security.

• EU’s Fragmented Position:

  • Fenby: Points out the lack of European unity, especially when facing challenges from the US, China, and Russia.
  • “What Trump has done… is he's faced Europe with a basic problem… it is not united enough to play the role it wants to play in global affairs, particularly vis a vis the United States and China.” (04:24, Jonathan Fenby)
  • Schubart: Notes Macron has set a tone by warning against “threats and intimidation from Washington as well as from Russia.” (05:37)
  • Concern in the Baltics remains high due to increasing aggression from both Russia (hybrid threats) and the US (diplomatic pressure).

• China’s Strategic Advantage:

  • Fenby: China exploits European disunity, advancing its economic interests and using “cherry-picking” tactics (06:34).
  • Schubart: Europe’s efforts to reduce dependency on China are hindered by reliance on China’s control of rare earth processing—critical for the green transition (07:38).

• Polling:

  • Schubart: Recent polls show major European powers, especially France and Germany, now deem the US “unreliable,” a stark shift in attitudes (09:21).

• Rise of Inward-Looking Politics:

  • Fenby: Predicts the strengthening of nationalistic parties in Europe will make deeper EU cooperation and market enlargement doubtful (10:08).

2. Diplomacy Stalemates: US, Iran, and Middle East Tensions

(10:38–15:47)

• State of US-Israel-Iran Dialogues:

  • Godwin: Trump’s latest talks with Netanyahu yield no public commitments; unusually, the meeting was kept low-profile (10:38).
  • Fenby: Predicts little chance of a substantive deal with Iran, as Trump demands terms (potentially even regime change) that remain unacceptable to Tehran (11:28).
  • Schubart: Structured backdoor negotiations with Qatar and Oman suggest possible room for compromise, but much is “happening behind the scenes” (12:08).

• Regional Calculations:

  • Schubart: Highlights the destabilizing influence of Iran’s non-state allies (e.g., in Yemen, Iraq) and how their disruptive capacity—asymmetric “negative power”—remains a serious threat to regional and energy security (14:59).

• Energy Risks:

  • Fenby: Emphasizes the risk that any escalation will hit the EU particularly hard through energy price shocks (15:47).
  • Schubart: Real “shock” to global markets would come if energy infrastructure or chokepoints are hit, but recommends being “concerned but not necessarily worried” (14:43).

3. Politics and Protest at the Winter Olympics

(16:15–21:11)

• The Disqualification Incident:

  • Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladislav Heraskevich is disqualified for refusing to remove a helmet honoring fallen Ukrainians (16:15).
  • Schubart: Notes athlete solidarity and general horror at the decision—emphasizes this was “a memorial, not a political slogan” (17:01).
  • Fenby: Calls the ban “a political decision,” observing double standards in Olympic symbolism (17:36).

• Olympic Rules on Expression:

  • Godwin & Fenby: Debate whether Olympic guidelines on political symbols are sufficiently clear (17:54).
  • Schubart: Links to IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s controversial political past in Zimbabwe, questions the decision-making process and motives (18:36).

• The Role of the Olympics as a Platform:

  • Schubart: “Maybe people would learn more about those 130 other conflicts [if athletes protested], but ever since…1968…there have been political demonstrations at the Olympics” (19:49).
  • Fenby: “It’s bound to be a platform for remembrance or political statements.” (20:19)

• Cultural Parallels:

  • Godwin: Observes that politics pervades most major public events, citing recent Grammy and Super Bowl moments (20:24-20:52).

4. Politicians, Podcasts, and the Quest for Direct Voter Engagement

(21:11–28:49)

• Sweden’s PM Launches a Call-in Podcast:

  • Godwin: Premier Ulf Kristersen starts “Ring Stutzministern” as a voter-outreach effort ahead of Swedish elections (21:11, 22:50).
  • Fenby: Skeptical, calling it “pretty dire”—suggests such shows rarely yield real connections and can highlight politicians’ communication shortcomings (23:14, 25:01).
  • Schubart: Notes most politicians lack the spontaneity and charm needed; Obama and Boris Johnson are rare exceptions (23:58, 24:49).

• Lessons from Other Contexts:

  • Schubart: Attempts to copy this in African contexts failed due to cultural norms and lack of authenticity—“they had just relegated the answering back to some aide” (26:19).
  • Fenby: French attempts at open dialogue “were so wooden that they wouldn’t have convinced anyone” (25:01).

• Vox Pops and the Dilemma of Public Forums:

  • Godwin & Fenby: Share their skepticism of unscripted public input, noting the fillers and lack of true representation (27:01–27:56).
  • Discussion closes with the consensus that not everyone is suited to the podcast format; authenticity and skill are crucial (28:06).

5. Behind the Scenes: Broadcasting the Olympic Games

(29:20–35:35) Interview: Ed Stocker with Yanis X Haros, CEO of Olympic Broadcasting Service

• Scope and Complexity:

  • Haros oversees production of approximately 6,500 hours of Olympic coverage per Games, facilitating coverage for over 100 rights holders globally (30:43).
  • “Here we will produce something like 6,500 hours of broadcast, even though total competition time is around 1,000 hours.” (31:52, Yanis X Haros)
  • Coverage is adapted for various platforms—TV, digital, social—to match evolving consumption habits (32:47).

• Unifying Impact and Audience:

  • Olympics provide a rare “unifying force,” with 5 billion people watching in Paris 2024, “89% of the human population…with access to television or internet connection” (32:50–33:36).
  • More than half the Olympic audience are “casual fans,” drawn in by the cultural and unifying aspects, not just sports (34:01, Haros).

• Challenges and Opportunities:

  • Growing audience expectations and fragmented consumption habits make the job more demanding but also more rewarding (34:01–35:35).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Unreliable is virtually all of them. All of the different polls say America is an unreliable ally. And the greatest number…are from France and from Germany. These are key partners that would have never said that in the past.”
  — Tira Schubart (09:21)

• “I think Beijing would see…sort of a great power arrangement…with Washington. But it sees Europe as a very promising marketplace, particularly for instance for electric vehicles.”
  — Jonathan Fenby (08:17)

• “It should have been allowed to go ahead, the wearing of the helmet. After all, the Russian flag is not displayed at the Olympics…”
  — Jonathan Fenby, on the Ukrainian athlete ban (17:36)

• “Maybe people would learn more about those 130 other conflicts. But ever since…1968…there have been political demonstrations of athletes in the Olympics.”
  — Tira Schubart (19:49)

• “It isn’t just the politicians, but I think it’s also the callers in who tend to go on for a long, long time, very boringly putting their point of view.”
  — Jonathan Fenby, on open radio/podcast formats (26:50)

• “The Olympics remain one of the large, great audience aggregators…a unifying force and no pressure.”
  — Yanis X Haros (32:47)

• “We live at times where unifying forces are fewer and fewer, and the Olympics is one of them, and we need them.”
  — Yanis X Haros (35:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• EU, US, and China Relations: 03:02–10:38
• US-Israel-Iran Diplomacy & Energy Risks: 10:38–15:47
• Olympic Politics & Athlete Protest: 16:15–21:11
• Politicians’ Podcasts & Direct Engagement: 21:11–28:49
• Olympic Broadcasting Service—Interview with Yanis X Haros: 29:20–35:35

Tone and Style

The discussion is sharp, witty, and sometimes irreverent, with panelists exchanging both heavyweight analysis and light-hearted banter. There’s a persistent undercurrent of skepticism toward both political showmanship and official narratives, balanced by moments of warmth—especially in the coverage of sports and public dialogue.

For a deeper dive on European security anxieties, global diplomatic trends, and the cultural role of sport (and podcasting) in turbulent times, this episode of The Monocle Daily offers both keen insights and engaging conversation.