Best Summer Orban Podcasts (2024)

1
Cyprus: Trapped Inside a Frozen Conflict 42:22

1d ago42:22

42:22

Cyprus did not feature much in the 2015-16 refugee crisis, but subsequent years of closed borders across Europe has made the only EU member to border the Middle East a viable option for asylum seekers. But as war escalates across the region, Cyprus has started halting migration by pushing back boats and exploiting a legacy of the island's own painf…

1
Iran-Israel Escalation, Harris and Trump Seek Hispanic Vote, Biden in Germany, and More 29:54

5d ago29:54

29:54

Hostilities between Iran and Israel reach a new level after Israel’s ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold separate town halls to reach undecided Hispanic voters; U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Germany to shore up military supp…

1
Bosnia: A Deadly Game 35:57

8d ago35:57

35:57

In the early nineties, hundreds of thousands of Bosnians fleeing war sought asylum in Europe. In 2024, tens of thousands of refugees from across the world are stranded in Bosnia. Every night they attempt a border crossing (known as ‘the game’) only to return with horrific injuries inflicted by Croatian authorities financed and supported by the EU. …

1
Zelenskyy’s Diplomatic Drive, Japan’s New Leader, U.S. and Canadian Tariffs on China’s EVs, and More 28:27

13d ago28:27

28:27

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensifies efforts to galvanize greater political and financial support; Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect a new leader to become the next prime minister; the United States and Canada each impose a 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs); and Sri Lanka’s new president, Ma…

1
Hungary: In the Shadow of Orban’s Wall 34:29

15d ago34:29

34:29

In 2015 Hungary’s authoritarian leader Viktor Orban proudly unveiled a razor wire fence along the country’s southern border with Serbia. But far from stop migration to Europe, it disperses the flows through neighboring countries. Meanwhile in the frontier villages it has spawned a thriving smuggling market, with shootouts between gangs and police c…

1
UN Meets in Tense Times, Pager Explosions Rattle Hezbollah, Biden’s Last Quad Summit, and More 31:48

20d ago31:48

31:48

The UN General Assembly begins its seventy-ninth high-level debate amid questions about its limited role in resolving major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; fears of a wider regional war grow as Hezbollah vows retaliation against Israel after thousands of pagers exploded across Lebanon; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts the leaders of the Qua…

1
Poland: The People in the Forest 42:23

22d ago42:23

42:23

The Belarusian dictator wages hybrid warfare on Europe’s eastern border, using migrants as his weapon. The EU responds forcefully by punishing the victims with barbed wire and pushbacks. But resistance to these hardline measures is building in Polish villages along the frontline, and activists race to rescue people stranded in Europe’s largest fore…

1
Congress’s Funding Battle, Iran Sends Missiles to Russia, Orbán Defies the EU, and More 30:33

26d ago30:33

30:33

The U.S. Congress returns from its summer recess to try to pass a budget for federal discretionary programs before the fiscal year ends and avoid a government shutdown; the United States and other Western allies accuse Iran of transferring ballistic missiles to Russia, raising concerns over intensified strikes on Ukraine; Hungary faces a second dea…

1
Greece: A Bermuda Triangle for People 40:27

1M ago40:27

40:27

Why are migrants disappearing from the Greek islands and ending up at sea? How has the country that once won international plaudits for their humanitarian welcome, become a place of fear and suspicion? On the island of Samos, we try to unravel a sinister mystery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Gaza’s Troubled Cease-Fire Efforts, Harris and Trump Debate, Toronto International Film Fest, and More 28:12

1M ago28:12

28:12

The United States, Egypt, and Qatar prepare another cease-fire proposal after Hamas killed six Israeli hostages and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu demanded control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border; Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold their first presidential debate; the Toronto Internatio…

1
Trailer 1:13

1M ago1:13

1:13

This summer saw far-right mobs unleash devastating violence towards migrants and asylum seekers in Britain. It’s a far cry from the outpouring of sympathy shown during the European refugee crisis a decade ago. The new seven-part documentary podcast Fortress Europe shows how years of increasingly brutal and dehumanizing anti-migrant policies have fa…

1
The Stakes in Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive, Stopping Mpox Spread, Nuclear Arms Race Returns, and More 30:28

1M ago30:28

30:28

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the incursion into Kursk is an important step towards ending the war with Russia, but Ukraine is facing a major test in its own Donbas battlefields; the intensifying mpox outbreak places additional strain on the Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding African nations; heightened security tensions sp…

1
TWNW Special: What to Read This Summer 2024 (Replay) 44:31

2M ago44:31

44:31

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good rea…

1
Ukraine Pushes Into Russia, 2024 DNC Begins, Foreign Hacking Targets Trump and Harris, and More 29:43

2M ago29:43

29:43

Ukraine’s surprise incursion of Russia’s Kursk region captures territory and stuns the Kremlin; the Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago with concerns of divisions in the party over support for Israel in its war in the Gaza Strip; U.S. intelligence is on high alert after foreign hacking attempts on both former President Donald Trump’…

1
U.S. Presidential Campaign Picks Up, Iran Mulls Retaliation, Bangladesh’s New Government, and More 26:55

2M ago26:55

26:55

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, campaign ahead of the party’s convention; world leaders and diplomats reach out to Iran and Israel to head off a wider regional war after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran spurred retaliation threats; Bangladesh prep…

1
Israel-Iran Tensions Escalate, Venezuela Election Questioned, Edinburgh Fringe Shines, and More 30:09

2M ago30:09

30:09

The Middle East braces for the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran-backed forces after the assassinations of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr; Venezuelans protest the results of the presidential election that grant incumbent President Nicolás Maduro a third term; the Edinburgh Festival Fringe…

1
World Reacts to Biden Withdrawal, Summer Olympics Begin, Gaza Diplomacy After Netanyahu’s Visit to Washington, and More 31:33

3M ago31:33

31:33

Global leaders react to U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination; France ramps up security measures as the Summer Olympics kick off in Paris; Diplomacy continues over a potential Israel-Hamas cease-fire after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addr…

1
GOP Election Enthusiasm, Netanyahu Addresses U.S. Congress, Cyprus 50 Years After Invasion, and More 28:11

3M ago28:11

28:11

The world reacts to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the selection of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as former President Donald Trump’s running mate; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress; Cyprus marks fifty years since the Turkish invasion that left the country still split in two; a…

1
NATO and Ukraine Beyond 75, Japan Hosts Pacific Islands, France’s Political Gridlock, and More 31:39

3M ago31:39

31:39

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wraps its seventy-fifth summit, pledging to keep Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership while concerns grow about the future of U.S. commitment; Japan hosts the tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting to counter China’s influence in the region; France struggles to form a government as party diffe…

1
TWNW Special: What to Read This Summer 2024 43:50

3M ago43:50

43:50

This special episode of The World Next Week features a summerlong feast of reading, watching, and listening treats. Deborah Amos, the Ferris Professor of Journalism in Residence at Princeton University and a former international correspondent for National Public Radio, joins CFR’s TWNW hosts Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss good rea…

1
France, Iran, and the UK Hold Snap Elections, EU Pushback on Chinese EVs, and More 34:52

3M ago34:52

34:52

France’s governance is at stake as it holds snap elections for its National Assembly, with the far-right National Rally looking to build on its success in the European Parliament elections; the United Kingdom (UK) has its own snap general elections with Keir Starmer and his Labour Party looking to end the fourteen-year rule of the Conservatives; Ir…

1
Russia’s Secret Trial for Gershkovich, EU’s Rightward Shift, Boeing in Space, and More 23:26

4M ago23:26

23:26

A Russian court moves judicial proceedings for detained U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich to Yekaterinburg for a closed-door espionage trial; the success of far-right parties in the European Parliament elections challenges the power of several incumbent European Union (EU) leaders; the Boeing Starliner "Calypso" spacecraft prepares to return from th…

1
Ukraine Pushes Peace Summit, Sudan in Catastrophe, Israel-Hamas Deal at a Crossroads, and More 30:27

4M ago30:27

30:27

Ukraine pushes for wider international support and endorsement of its proposed peace process at Switzerland’s Ukraine peace summit; the UN Security Council deliberates how to assist Sudanese civilians and de-escalate the civil war; diplomatic pressure builds for a U.S.-backed cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip; and Russian ships arrive in Cuban wate…

1
European Parliament Elections, G7 Leaders’ 50th Summit, Powerful Hurricane Season Looming, and More 30:34

4M ago30:34

30:34

All twenty-seven European Union (EU) member states vote in European Parliament elections with polls showing right-wing parties poised to gain more seats; the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies meet in Italy with a sizable agenda, including support for Ukraine and trade concerns with China; the United States prepares for an above-nor…

1
Biden’s Gaza Dilemmas, 80 Years Since D-Day, Mexico’s Milestone Election, and More 28:05

4M ago28:05

28:05

U.S. President Joe Biden faces increasing international and domestic pressures on his policy toward the Israel-Hamas war amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip; Western leaders commemorate the eightieth anniversary of D-Day with Russia’s war in Ukraine front of mind; Mexico holds massive general elections that are likely to usher …

1
Iran’s Succession Woes, ICC Angers Israel, South Africa’s Election, and More 28:40

5M ago28:40

28:40

Iran’s regime carefully vets candidates for new presidential elections after the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash; Israeli leadership reacts to the International Criminal Court (ICC) request for warrants to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant; South Africa prepares for a general election …

1
Ukraine Tries To Halt Russian Advance, Biden Woos Kenya, the Fate of Assange, and More 29:24

5M ago29:24

29:24

Ukraine rushes to push back against a new Russian offensive in its northeast Kharkiv region; U.S. President Joe Biden invites Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit, the first U.S. state visit for an African leader since 2008; London’s High Court decides on whether to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to stand…

1
Israel’s Rafah Plans, Greece and Turkey Boost Diplomacy, Cannes Festival Unveils New Films, and More 29:01

5M ago29:01

29:01

Israel’s newest military operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah stirs concerns of catastrophe for Palestinians in Gaza, and prompts the United States to condition its offensive military aid for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out; Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in…

1
World Press Freedom Day 2024: Mounting Threats, Renewed Purpose 45:35

5M ago45:35

45:35

In this special episode to mark World Press Freedom Day, Jeffrey Gedmin, cofounder and editor-in-chief of American Purpose and former president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to discuss the global state of press freedom. They cover the challenges that a growing number of journalists face in exile or …

1
Blinken Visits China, May Day Stirs Workers’ Rights Concerns, the U.S. Resumes Ukraine Aid, and More 26:58

6M ago26:58

26:58

Secretary of State Antony Blinken wraps his second visit to China as tensions mount over Beijing’s military support of Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing threats in the South China Sea; International Workers’ Day on May 1 comes at a time of revived labor activism over wages and inequality; and U.S. President Joe Biden approves a $61 billion foreig…

1
Aftermath of Iran’s Attack on Israel, EU Talks Ukraine, India’s Massive Election, and More 30:59

6M ago30:59

30:59

Concerns grow over the widening Middle East conflict after Iran launches three hundred ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at Israel; European Union (EU) leaders discuss how to bolster aid to Ukraine amid an uptick in Russian attacks and the situation unfolding in the Middle East; India kicks off the world’s largest democratic election—…

1
Congress’s Urgent Agenda, Sudan’s Year of War, Ecuador-Mexico Embassy Fray, and More 23:10

6M ago23:10

23:10

Congress returns from recess and grapples with contentious agenda items, including reauthorization of a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and a Ukraine aid package; Sudan enters a second year of civil war with more than half of the country’s population in need of aid and millions more displaced; and Ecuadorian police breach inter…

1
Rwanda 30 Years After Genocide, U.S.-Japan-Philippines Summit, ABBA’s Eurovision Legacy, and More 25:41

6M ago25:41

25:41

Rwanda marks thirty years since its genocide against the Tutsis; U.S. President Joe Biden hosts the first trilateral leaders’ summit with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.; music fans celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Swedish pop group ABBA’s Eurovision win; and Ekrem İmamoğlu is elected may…

1
Biden and Netanyahu at Odds, Putin Responds to ISIS-K Attack, Cuba Food and Electricity Shortages, and More 21:16

6M ago21:16

21:16

The fallout after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and release of all hostages further reveals a growing strain between the United States and Israel; Russia reels from the ISIS-K terrorist attack on concertgoers near Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin deliberating how to respond;…

1
Senegal and Slovakia Elections, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban Clash, Nuclear Energy Gains Favor, and More 28:13

7M ago28:13

28:13

Senegal holds its postponed presidential election amid fears of democratic backsliding; Slovakia chooses a new president in voting that could bolster Prime Minister Robert Fico’s illiberal tilt; Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan exchange blows after a string of terrorist attacks on Pakistani territory; nuclear energy gets a boost at a fir…

1
Russia’s Gloomy ‘Elections’, U.S. Budget Divisions, Elton John-Bernie Taupin Awarded, and More 30:56

7M ago30:56

30:56

Russia holds its presidential election with the Kremlin aiming to orchestrate a sweeping endorsement of President Vladimir Putin; the U.S. Congress continues its partisan battles over the 2024 budget as concerns of shutdown and aid to allies mount; the U.S. Library of Congress flexes its soft power by awarding Elton John and Bernie Taupin with the …

1
Ramadan Cease-Fire Prospects, Portugal’s Snap Election, Oscars Go International, and More 22:49

7M ago22:49

22:49

Negotiators attempt to establish a six-week cease-fire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas before the start of the sacred Islamic month of Ramadan; Portugal holds a snap parliamentary election with a far-right party gaining traction; international films gain prominence at the ninety-sixth Academy Awards; and Chinese President Xi Jinp…

1
Biden Addresses SOTU, Iran Holds Elections, Bosnia’s Pipeline Feud, and More 30:59

7M ago30:59

30:59

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his last State of the Union address before elections to a polarized Congress; Iran holds its first parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections since the 2022 protests sparked by the death of activist Mahsa Amini; Bosnia and Herzegovina marks independence as ethnic divisions fester; and the North Atlantic Treaty…

1
Grim Ukraine War Anniversary, WTO in Limbo, Blinken’s Lula and Milei Tour, and More 29:18

8M ago29:18

29:18

Ukraine marks the second anniversary of Russia’s large-scale invasion; the World Trade Organization (WTO) holds its thirteenth ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi amid deep uncertainty about progress on dispute settlement system reform; U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Argentina and Brazil to forge stronger U.S.-South America ties;…

1
60th Munich Security Conference, African Union’s Conflict-Laden Agenda, Bellicose North Korea, and More 30:48

8M ago30:48

30:48

World leaders gather for the sixtieth Munich Security Conference with growing concerns about a continued war in Ukraine and threats to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cohesion; the African Union holds its annual summit as multiple crises mount, including armed conflict and democratic blacksliding; Kim Jong Un increases aggressive language…

1
Chile’s Inferno, NATO Ramps Up Security Exercises, Indonesia’s Presidential Election, and More 27:15

8M ago27:15

27:15

Chile works to recover from the devastating wildfire in its central Valparaíso region; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) continues with its 2024 Steadfast Defender exercise, the largest since the Cold War, while uncertainty over members’ commitment grows; Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, holds vast general elections; and …

1
Biden Confronts Iran, China’s Lunar New Year Economic Slowdown, Pakistan’s Flawed Elections, and More 26:45

8M ago26:45

26:45

The Joe Biden administration contends with how to respond to a deadly attack on U.S. service members at a base in Jordan while also preventing a wider regional war; a faltering economy clouds festivities as millions of Chinese travel home for Lunar New Year; Pakistan will elect a new prime minister and National Assembly, but lackluster candidates, …

1
Rebels Gain As Myanmar Marks Coup Anniversary, EU's Ukraine Aid Challenge, Kenya’s Pending Mission to Haiti, and More 24:30

9M ago24:30

24:30

The Three Brotherhood Alliance and other armed ethnic groups in Myanmar pose a significant threat to regime control as the country enters its third year under junta rule; the European Union (EU) meets for a special summit on military aid for Ukraine, but concerns remain over Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán; Kenya’s high court will decide whet…

1
U.S.-Iran Proxy War Intensifies, Sudan Conflict Rages On, Sundance Film Festival Marks Forty Years, and More 29:29

9M ago29:29

29:29

More than one hundred days into the war in the Gaza Strip, hostilities continue to escalate region-wide, marked by clashes between proxies of Iran and U.S. forces; Sudan’s civil war worsens as a new diplomatic initiative stalls; the Sundance Film Festival celebrates its fortieth anniversary; and the small island nation of Nauru cuts ties with Taiwa…

1
Taiwan’s Pivotal Elections, Apple Battles Regulations, Davos Addresses World Risks, and More 25:56

9M ago25:56

25:56

Taiwan holds its presidential and legislative elections, which have major geopolitical consequences for both the United States and China; tech giant Apple deals with patent infringement allegations while more governments consider regulations on tech; the fifty-fourth World Economic Forum Annual Meeting hosts global business and political leaders in…

1
Mideast Tensions Grow, Consumer Electronics Show Spotlights AI, Divided U.S. Congress Returns, and More 27:43

9M ago27:43

27:43

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken returns to the Middle East as the region reacts to attacks in Iran, Lebanon, and the Red Sea; the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas previews new products and services equipped with artificial intelligence (AI); the U.S. Congress returns from its holiday recess with divisions over migration and defe…

1
The World Next Year: Stories to Watch in 2024 47:50

10M ago47:50

47:50

In this special, year-end episode, Nahal Toosi, Politico’s senior correspondent for foreign affairs and national security, joins Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins to review the biggest events of 2023 and the stories to keep an eye on in the coming year. They discuss instability caused by the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine, the glo…

1
Guyana-Venezuela Border Dispute, Missile Defense Base in Poland, DRC Elections, and More 27:39

10M ago27:39

27:39

Guyana and Venezuela begin discussion on a territorial dispute over the Essequibo region; the Redzikowo U.S. missile defense base in Poland becomes operable; the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds presidential elections; and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny goes missing. Mentioned on the Podcast Will Freeman, “Will Venezuela invade Gu…

1
Fighting Resumes in Gaza, EU Summit’s Ukraine Challenge, Egypt’s Elections, and More 28:11

10M ago28:11

28:11

Palestinian civilians find fewer safe places to shelter as Israeli forces expand ground operations south in the Gaza Strip; European Union (EU) leaders discuss prospects for more aid and EU membership for Ukraine; Egypt holds presidential elections amid an economic crisis; and a former senior U.S. diplomat is charged as a spy for Cuba. Mentioned on…

1
COP28 in Dubai, Russia Crackdown on Journalists, China Illness Spike, and More 25:00

10M ago25:00

25:00

The United Arab Emirates, a major oil and gas producer, hosts the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), where hundreds of world leaders meet to discuss limiting global warming and helping states that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change; Russia arbitrarily detains a journalist with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; a…

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Summer Orban Podcasts

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