Best POLITICO Europe Podcasts (2024)

1
The EU's new power pyramid and migration escalation 43:28

2h ago43:28

43:28

Live from Strasbourg… and Paris… and Berlin… and London, it’s EU Confidential. In this week’s episode, we catch you up on a dizzying week of news. We start with the inside dish on Thierry Breton’s high-drama departure from the European Commission, followed by analysis of who’s really in charge now that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has …

1
Meet JD Vance's surprising European support network 34:40

1d ago34:40

34:40

From Hillbilly Elegy to vice-presidential candidate, JD Vance has come far since his hardscrabble roots in Ohio to shape the Trump doctrine for the millennial generation. He’s also gained notoriety for upping the temperature of America’s heated political discourse. But there’s also a philosophical side to Vance, shaped by a network of advisers and …

1
Does Europe’s economy need Mountain Dew? 37:44

11d ago37:44

37:44

While Brussels has been obsessed recently with the “Draghi report,” that’s NOT the topic of this week’s episode. We will, however, discuss WHY Brussels is so besotted. (Spoiler alert: It's because Europe’s economy is broken.) Host Sarah Wheaton talks to POLITICO’s Carlo Martuscelli and Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING Think, about why t…

1
The Trump thump: Has Harris sealed the deal? 29:55

6d ago29:55

29:55

The sparks flew in the first U.S. presidential debate Tuesday night between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. How will the encounter shape the final stretch of the campaign to the Nov. 5 election — and what does it mean for the rest of the world? Host Anne McElvoy talks to POLITICO’s Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris, a doyen of debate coverage, abo…

1
Brussels’ back-to-school blues 34:34

19d ago34:34

34:34

It’s been a particularly chaotic rentrée for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In this week’s episode of EU Confidential, we talk about the mad dash to name the new slate of commissioners, while getting the right balance of politics, geography, gender and expertise. Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO’s Chief EU Correspondent Barbara …

1
Starmer's wasted opportunity to influence Netanyahu on Gaza 33:02

8d ago33:02

33:02

Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of Israel between 2006 and 2009, believes Britain’s suspension of some of its arms exports is a “mistake” that won’t affect the country’s military campaign in Gaza and may prove a wasted opportunity for PM Keir Starmer to influence events in Gaza. Talking to host Anne McElvoy, Olmert criticizes Britain's decision and…

1
Anne Applebaum on dictators big and small 36:17

15d ago36:17

36:17

In this episode of EU Confidential, we speak to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anne Applebaum. Her latest book, "Autocracy Inc.," explores how authoritarian regimes are banding together against democracies, including EU countries. But first, we look ahead to local elections in three eastern German states, where extreme parties on both the right …

1
Trump v Harris: How to win a TV election debate 33:01

16d ago33:01

33:01

With the U.S. presidential debate now confirmed, our guests explain the tips and tricks that could help Donald Trump or Kamala Harris win their first head-to-head encounter on Sept. 10 — and why there has been a pre-debate row over format and mics. Host Anne McElvoy is joined by Brett O’Donnell, a veteran expert on preparing candidates for debate o…

1
Live at the DNC: Kamala Harris' big moment 21:52

25d ago21:52

21:52

Kamala Harris wound up the Democratic National Convention in Chicago by staking her claim to be the next president of the United States. Does the Democrat have the momentum to beat Donald Trump? Moments after the Harris finale at the DNC, host Anne McElvoy sat down with John Harris, POLITICO's global editor-in-chief, and Eugene Daniels, White House…

1
This burger could kill the EU 21:44

21d ago21:44

21:44

In this episode, host Sarah Wheaton is joined by Alessandro Ford, POLITICO’s agriculture reporter, to unpack how the prospect of lab-grown meat has riled up Europe’s farmers — threatening to upend the EU’s agriculture policy and lucrative subsidy program. Read Alessandro’s full story here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

1
Live at the DNC: Tammy Duckworth takes aim at Republicans for military slurs 23:08

1M ago23:08

23:08

Live on stage at the CNN-POLITICO Grill in Chicago, host Anne McElvoy talks to U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth. The Illinois senator — a decorated war veteran — has fiercely defended the military record of Tim Walz, the running mate of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, against Republican criticism that he exaggerated his service. Here a…

1
Summer special: Who votes for the European far right? And why? 39:44

28d ago39:44

39:44

While the podcast takes a little break, we bring this insightful episode back into your feed — unpacking details of who votes for the far right in Europe. We unpack what drives voters to abandon the mainstream and more traditional party loyalties for the far right, and how poverty, or fear of it, motivates typical supporters of the AfD in Germany, …

1
Summer special: ‘Rent is too damn high!’ Europe’s growing housing crisis 42:25

1M ago42:25

42:25

On our summer break, we're bringing this episode from January back into your feed by popular demand, looking at a crisis that is affecting many Europeans in most EU countries: skyrocketing rents and house prices, a shortage of flats, long waiting lists for social or affordable housing — commonplace problems from Greece to Luxembourg to Portugal. Ho…

1
EU Commissioners' power puzzle 33:35

2M ago33:35

33:35

Brussels might seem empty, but high-stakes games are afoot behind the scenes. From air-conditioned government suites (and the occasional vacation villa), leaders are working the phones, trying to convince European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to give their country the most prestigious posts in the EU executive. In this week’s edition o…

1
Queen of Europe: The surprising side to Ursula von der Leyen 27:12

2M ago27:12

27:12

She’s the “queen of Europe” and her reign is set for another five years. Ursula von der Leyen’s reelection as president of the European Commission comes amid the war in Ukraine and a rise of the far right. She is a figure who seeks to bring calm to political storms. But could the outcome of the race for the White House change that? Host Anne McElvo…

1
Harris, Vance and what they mean for Europe 39:55

2M ago39:55

39:55

Is American politics giving you whiplash? This week’s episode of EU Confidential has all you need to cope, with primers on the foreign policy postures of Vice President Kamala Harris and JD Vance. Dialling in from Washington, POLITICO National Security Reporter Eric Bazail-Eimil helps us understand who Harris will lean on when it comes to Europe, w…

1
Kamala Harris takes aim at Trump: Is history on her side? 33:48

2M ago33:48

33:48

Kamala Harris' sudden elevation to likely Democrat nominee has transformed the race for the White House. As President Biden passed the baton, can she beat a resurgent Donald Trump? Host Anne McElvoy talks to the doyen of American constitutional experts, Philip Bobbitt, about the significance of the Biden transition to Harris. As Lyndon Baines Johns…

1
As it happened: Ursula von der Leyen’s secret ballot triumph 36:43

2M ago36:43

36:43

Big decisions awaited the new class of MEPs this week: Whether to back Ursula von der Leyen for a second term atop the Commission; which committee assignments to pursue; and, most urgently, which Parliament bar to visit to get away from it all. Join host Sarah Wheaton for a romp through the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament, and relive a w…

1
Live at the RNC: Insiders decode the Trump and Vance show 32:08

2M ago32:08

32:08

It's been an eventful few days at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, are preparing to take the stage for their set-piece speeches. How will they set the tone for the election campaign? Inside the convention center, host Anne McElvoy talks to Hogan Gidley, press secretary during Trump…

1
Live at the RNC: Trump insider on the survivor and a new VP 34:22

2M ago34:22

34:22

Reince Priebus is one the Republican Party's veteran power brokers. He served Donald Trump as his first White House chief of staff and chairs the host committee at this year's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. As Republican delegates gather in the aftermath of a dramatic couple of days, host Anne McElvoy speaks to Priebus live on stage a…

1
Viktor Orbán's rogue “peace missions” to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and Washington 34:48

3M ago34:48

34:48

Just days into his country's rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orbán again stunned other European leaders by setting off on a series of visits to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing, styling himself as a peace negotiator with a mandate from Brussels. Host Sarah Wheaton and POLITICO's chief EU correspondent…

1
Starmer at NATO summit: departing general issues sobering advice 25:41

3M ago25:41

25:41

Fresh from his landslide victory, Britain’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has flown to Washington to join other leaders of NATO countries as they meet for the alliance’s 75th anniversary summit. As the war in Ukraine takes another ugly turn following a week of heavy Russian bombardment, can NATO turn the tide of the losses? Host Anne McElvoy ta…

1
French election shocker: reaction and analysis 21:48

3M ago21:48

21:48

France has voted and the results are in — our POLITICO team in Paris discusses the surprising results of the final round of the parliamentary election in this special episode of EU Confidential. Host Nicholas Vinocur is first joined by POLITICO's Victor Goury-Laffont to break down the results and explain how President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists an…

1
Keir’s here: Starmer wants to change Britain and its standing in the world 33:58

3M ago33:58

33:58

It's all change in the U.K. Labour's historic landslide election victory beckons a different kind of leadership for Britain on the world stage after 14 years of Conservative rule. Keir Starmer, who stepped into his new job as PM, will have little time to define his approach to the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and contend with a more assertive C…

1
Panic mode: Biden and Le Pen imperil mainstream politics 34:29

3M ago34:29

34:29

Just days before the final round of France's snap parliamentary elections, we discuss possible scenarios for what could emerge from the messy political situation in Paris: shiny new leaders, a shaky new government, rocky cohabitation — or even more chaos. Host Sarah Wheaton talks to POLITICO's senior correspondent in Paris, Clea Caulcutt. Later she…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

POLITICO Europe Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
POLITICO Europe

POLITICO Europe

1
EU Confidential

POLITICO

151
Power Play

POLITICO

1
The EU's new power pyramid and migration escalation 43:28

1
Meet JD Vance's surprising European support network 34:40

1
Does Europe’s economy need Mountain Dew? 37:44

1
The Trump thump: Has Harris sealed the deal? 29:55

1
Brussels’ back-to-school blues 34:34

1
Starmer's wasted opportunity to influence Netanyahu on Gaza 33:02

1
Anne Applebaum on dictators big and small 36:17

1
Trump v Harris: How to win a TV election debate 33:01

1
Live at the DNC: Kamala Harris' big moment 21:52

1
This burger could kill the EU 21:44

1
Live at the DNC: Tammy Duckworth takes aim at Republicans for military slurs 23:08

1
Summer special: Who votes for the European far right? And why? 39:44

1
Summer special: ‘Rent is too damn high!’ Europe’s growing housing crisis 42:25

1
EU Commissioners' power puzzle 33:35

1
Queen of Europe: The surprising side to Ursula von der Leyen 27:12

1
Harris, Vance and what they mean for Europe 39:55

1
Kamala Harris takes aim at Trump: Is history on her side? 33:48

1
As it happened: Ursula von der Leyen’s secret ballot triumph 36:43

1
Live at the RNC: Insiders decode the Trump and Vance show 32:08

1
Live at the RNC: Trump insider on the survivor and a new VP 34:22

1
Viktor Orbán's rogue “peace missions” to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing and Washington 34:48

1
Starmer at NATO summit: departing general issues sobering advice 25:41

1
French election shocker: reaction and analysis 21:48

1
Keir’s here: Starmer wants to change Britain and its standing in the world 33:58

1
Panic mode: Biden and Le Pen imperil mainstream politics 34:29

Quick Reference Guide