<p>We explore whether early controversies over this year’s Venice Biennale have eclipsed the art with our culture editor, Sophie Monaghan-Coombs. Plus: Russia’s Victory Day parade and our weekly Friday quiz.</p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>

Episode details and artwork are published by the show’s own feed. Sentinel plays short cited excerpts and links every episode back to its publisher.

← All episodes from Oxfordunion

Decoding the Venice Biennale

Search the Record

Oxfordunion Episodes Around May 8, 2026

Our weekly quiz and a look ahead to Salone del Mobile

Can Starmer stay the course?

Ukraine hopes for fresh EU loan and the race for the next UN secretary general

Has Iran gained the upper hand through negotiation (and memes)?

The politics of economic shocks – which countries can weather the Iran conflict?

That’s a wrap: Our weekly quiz and a look back at Salone del Mobile

King Charles, Jordan Bardella and our royal fascination

Leaders in crisis: A Keir Starmer inquiry and embattled Friedrich Merz

Nothing to see here: Russia plans military parade with no weaponry on show

Trump and Putin talk: much said but little gained?

Our weekly quiz and what King Charles meant to say in Washington

American troop drawdown in Germany and Canada joins European summit

Asymmetric warfare from the Strait of Hormuz to Ukraine and Lebanon

Remembering Ted Turner and one year of Friedrich Merz

Israel strikes Beirut despite new ceasefire. Will it jeopardise a wider peace deal?

Decoding the Venice Biennale

Europe considers whether Gerhard Schröder should act as a mediator in Ukraine war peace talks

Qatar hosts Gulf talks amid a ‘serious escalation’ threatening vital supply routes

Starmer stays resolute amid leadership challenge rumours and Trump returns to Beijing

How the US-Iran war is casting a shadow over the Brics foreign minister meeting in India

A wry wrap of the week

Why Taiwan is stressing that it’s ‘not part of China’

The stakes of the Xi-Putin summit for Taiwan and Ukraine

Xi casts China as the world’s stable power: what does this mean for the international order?

Why it’s up to Pakistan to keep US-Iran peace talks on track

Has World Urban Forum delivered on its theme of ‘Housing The World’?

Is the war in Iran creating a rift between Trump and Netanyahu?

Are the Abraham Accords the key to peace or pure puffery?

British waters and Latvian skies become new fronts in Russia’s war

How close is the US to invading Cuba?

Israel ramps up strikes on Lebanon and Gaza despite ceasefire agreements

Summary