Best POLITICOs EU Confidential Podcasts (2024)

1
EU top jobs deal — French election, round 1 29:05

4h ago29:05

29:05

Straight from the European Council summit, we bring you the latest news and analysis on a range of tough issues on the leaders' agenda. Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO colleagues Barbara Moens and Aitor Hernández-Morales to discuss how EU leaders agreed on who they want to lead the top EU institutions over the next five years. With Ukraini…

1
MEGA shift in the EU's balance of power 34:22

7d ago34:22

34:22

Almost two weeks after the EU election, there is still a lot of political manoeuvring going on — both in Brussels and in national capitals. First, POLITICO's chief EU correspondent, Barbara Moens, recaps of the race for the top jobs after European leaders failed to reach a deal at their informal dinner in Brussels earlier this week. Then, we zoom i…

1
Macron challenges French voters and spooks Brussels 24:05

15d ago24:05

24:05

As the EU comes to terms with its new (sort of) political reality following last weekend's European Parliament election, France is already back in campaign mode — preparing for snap elections called unexpectedly by President Emmanuel Macron. The French president dissolved the National Assembly in response to the massive success of the far-right Nat…

1
EU election results — Europe swings to the right 39:04

18d ago39:04

39:04

As election result projections were revealed on Sunday evening, our EU Confidential team recorded a live episode with first reactions and analysis from our POLITICO newsroom. Host Sarah Wheaton and the team looked beyond the numbers and analyzed the direction the EU might take as a consequence of the vote. We also discussed French President Emmanue…

1
What the EU election is actually about 32:41

22d ago32:41

32:41

As voting gets underway throughout the EU, we check in on the polls and learn which stories are dominating the headlines in capitals around Europe. Host Sarah Wheaton discusses the latest polling numbers with our data reporter Hanne Cokelaere. Be sure to check out POLITICO's Poll of Polls for the latest insights. We also hear from colleagues around…

1
Key EU policies — how will they change after the vote? 33:29

28d ago33:29

33:29

With just a week to go until the European election and the campaign in full gear, we're focusing on how the vote will impact key EU policies such as health, energy, climate, technology and defense. Will they be affected by the shake-up of the bloc's political landscape and the arrival of new MEPs and commissioners — or will continuity with the poli…

1
EU election 101 — your questions answered 36:35

1M ago36:35

36:35

This is your essential (and entertaining!) guide to the upcoming European election — everything you've wanted to know but been too afraid to ask. With the crucial vote just two weeks away, we reached out to you, our European and American listeners, on social media and collected the most pressing election-related questions. Both veterans of the Brus…

1
How Russian disinformation could skew EU election — and whether Europe can fight it 31:19

1M ago31:19

31:19

Ursula von der Leyen made a promise this week: if she secures another term as president of the European Commission, she will prioritize beefing up the EU's defenses against malicious disinformation from Moscow. It's a top-of-agenda issue for many in Brussels and across the bloc, with less than a month until the European election and hostile actors …

1
Who votes for the European far right? And why? 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

As recent national elections in several European countries have shown, far-right voters no longer fit the stereotype of the angry, old white man, but now often include women, young people and even migrants. In this episode we unpack what drives voters to abandon the mainstream and more traditional party loyalties for the far right, and how poverty,…

1
Debate time! EU lead candidates go head-to-head 35:34

2M ago35:34

35:34

It was a rare chance to see all the leading candidates from Europe's main political parties go head-to-head in a presidential-style debate to become the next head of the European Commission. With just over a month to go until the European Parliament election, eight politicians met in the Dutch city of Maastricht and spent an hour and a half answeri…

1
European Parliament in review — MEP unAwards 2024 33:11

2M ago33:11

33:11

Since the 2019 election this European Parliament has had to deal with various challenges, from Brexit and Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine and scandals such as Qatargate. At the same time it has managed to legislate on key issues such as climate change, AI and migration. In this episode we look back at the highs and lows of the EU legislature's last …

1
Brussels buzzwords of the week: competitiveness and Bolshewokism 37:06

2M ago37:06

37:06

In this episode we unpack the EU's new buzzword and the main point of discussion at this week's European Council summit: competitiveness. We also bring you another new buzzword from Brussels this week: Bolshewokism. Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO's chief Brussels correspondent, Barbara Moens, to recap the leaders' summit and their attempt…

1
EU election latest: Knives out for Ursula von der Leyen 34:57

3M ago34:57

34:57

With just weeks to go until the European Parliament election, we're bringing you the state of play. Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by Elisa Braun, POLITICO's Brussels correspondent, and Nicholas Vinocur, POLITICO's editor at large, to discuss the many political challenges facing EPP lead candidate Ursula von der Leyen: "Pfizergate," "Piepergate" and …

1
'If you want peace, prepare for war': How an old saying is making a comeback in Europe 30:49

3M ago30:49

30:49

In this episode, we unpack the growing urgency among EU leaders to defeat Russia's Vladimir Putin. Remember the old Latin saying: si vis pacem, para bellum (if you want peace, prepare for war)? We discuss what that might mean today. We also explain what's at stake in presidential runoff elections in Slovakia and round out our episode exploring why …

1
Farmers lead the EU climate backlash 34:52

3M ago34:52

34:52

As EU leaders received a stark warning about the climate risks facing the bloc, the European Commission caved to farmer protests and demands to slash environmental requirements. Host Sarah Wheaton talks to POLITICO's climate policy reporter Zia Weise about the recent report on climate risks facing the bloc, the first of its kind from the European E…

1
Portuguese voters' anger and what it means for Europe 31:46

4M ago31:46

31:46

Portugal's snap election has brought seismic change — the Socialists are now in opposition and the center-right Democratic Alliance, which narrowly won the vote, will try to form a minority government. But the biggest shock came when the far-right, ultra-nationalist, anti-immigrant Chega won more than a million votes and became the third-largest pa…

1
Inside the European People's Party Congress 2024 58:13

4M ago58:13

58:13

On this bumper edition of EU Confidential, we take you inside the two-day European People Party's Congress in Bucharest. Host Sarah Wheaton and POLITICO's Eddy Wax reveal what was happening as the center-right EPP sealed the deal on its campaign manifesto and anointed its lead candidate for the European Parliament election: Ursula von der Leyen. Th…

1
European Parliament election 2024 — state of play 34:28

4M ago34:28

34:28

With less than 100 days until the European Parliament election, we bring you the state of play. Also, we hear from Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili about her country's ambitions to join the EU. Host Sarah Wheaton assembles a panel of astute election watchers to break down the key issues and people shaping the discussions as campaigns get und…

1
VDL 2.0 — How Europe and Ukraine have changed, two years into Russia's all-out war 39:05

4M ago39:05

39:05

As we mark two years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we take stock of how the war has changed Europe's political landscape and identity — as well as life for Ukrainians under siege. Also, we look at Ursula von der Leyen's campaign to remain European Commission chief. Von der Leyen finally announced her intention this week to officially …

1
Europe responds to Donald Trump 29:54

4M ago29:54

29:54

Donald Trump has again sent shockwaves across Europe with comments suggesting that he would encourage Russia to invade NATO countries that do not spend enough on defense. In this episode, we discuss reactions in European capitals. Host Sarah Wheaton and her colleagues — senior Paris correspondent Clea Caulcutt, chief Europe correspondent Matthew Ka…

1
Can the EU defend Ukraine (and itself)? 29:40

5M ago29:40

29:40

Europe is waking up to the urgent need to strengthen its own defenses — especially as Donald Trump seems poised to capture the Republican nomination and possibly even the White House in November presidential elections. In this episode, host Sarah Wheaton is joined by Florence Gaub, director of research at the NATO Defence College in Rome and a futu…

1
Europe's angry farmers and EU funds for Ukraine (finally) 31:20

5M ago31:20

31:20

As farmer protests continue around Europe, we unpack their various concerns and analyze their impact on the European election. We also take you to an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels where crucial cash for Ukraine hung in the balance. Host Sarah Wheaton speaks to POLITICO's Parliament reporter Eddy Wax among the thousands of tractors…

1
'Rent is too damn high!' Europe’s growing housing crisis 37:35

5M ago37:35

37:35

In this episode we look 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. Host Sarah Wheaton talks to POLITICO's Aitor Hernández-Morales and Sorcha Edwards, secr…

1
Can the EU manage migration? 25:50

5M ago25:50

25:50

After seven years of bitter wrangling, the EU has finally reached an agreement on how to handle migration — one of its most challenging and divisive issues. In this episode of EU Confidential we look at what's in the deal, which has been hailed as a success by Brussels but criticized by NGOs and human rights groups. Host Sarah Wheaton and Jacopo Ba…

1
EU top jobs kickoff — finding compromise with Viktor Orbán 39:20

6M ago39:20

39:20

In this episode we look at the ongoing tug-of-war between Budapest and Brussels in the context of a rather shocking development that could pave the way for Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán — who has won a reputation as the bloc's biggest troublemaker — to chair meetings of EU leaders and set the EU agenda. It follows a surprising decision by European Coun…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

POLITICOs EU Confidential Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
EU Confidential

POLITICO

1
EU top jobs deal — French election, round 1 29:05

1
MEGA shift in the EU's balance of power 34:22

1
Macron challenges French voters and spooks Brussels 24:05

1
EU election results — Europe swings to the right 39:04

1
What the EU election is actually about 32:41

1
Key EU policies — how will they change after the vote? 33:29

1
EU election 101 — your questions answered 36:35

1
How Russian disinformation could skew EU election — and whether Europe can fight it 31:19

1
Who votes for the European far right? And why? 35:27

1
Debate time! EU lead candidates go head-to-head 35:34

1
European Parliament in review — MEP unAwards 2024 33:11

1
Brussels buzzwords of the week: competitiveness and Bolshewokism 37:06

1
EU election latest: Knives out for Ursula von der Leyen 34:57

1
'If you want peace, prepare for war': How an old saying is making a comeback in Europe 30:49

1
Farmers lead the EU climate backlash 34:52

1
Portuguese voters' anger and what it means for Europe 31:46

1
Inside the European People's Party Congress 2024 58:13

1
European Parliament election 2024 — state of play 34:28

1
VDL 2.0 — How Europe and Ukraine have changed, two years into Russia's all-out war 39:05

1
Europe responds to Donald Trump 29:54

1
Can the EU defend Ukraine (and itself)? 29:40

1
Europe's angry farmers and EU funds for Ukraine (finally) 31:20

1
'Rent is too damn high!' Europe’s growing housing crisis 37:35

1
Can the EU manage migration? 25:50

1
EU top jobs kickoff — finding compromise with Viktor Orbán 39:20

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