Best POLITICO Europe Podcasts (2025)

1
Newsroom Ethics and Tim Davie’s Wish List 49:40

1h ago49:40

49:40

Do we need a Hypocratic oath for journalism? Journalist and Author Mick Wright has been into UK newsrooms to deduce whether there's an ethical line beyond, “don’t get sued.” Also on the show: the BBC sets out its stall for charter renewal. PR supremo Will Wood is here to take us through Tim Davey’s wishlist. All that plus: the AI copyright bill suf…

1
Can Europe’s Trump counterpunch work? Sanctions, tariffs and a MAGA twist. 40:44

4h ago40:44

40:44

Trump is finally facing some resistance. Can Europe seize the moment? This week on EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton speaks with Swedish Member of the European Parliament Karin Karlsbro, just back from Washington, about how Brussels is reading the room in D.C. — and whether there’s any real appetite for a “beautiful trade deal” before Trump’s Jul…

1
Inside Westminster's Musk-inspired DOGE wars 38:20

1h ago38:20

38:20

As Reform UK sends its Elon Musk-style Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team into its new councils to assess "wasteful spending", host Patrick Baker takes a trip to Durham to speak to the county council’s new deputy leader, the former Brexit activist and GB News broadcaster, Darren Grimes, about what Reform's DOGE plans might mean for the…

1
Is real change coming to Serbia? 43:08

1h ago43:08

43:08

Serbia’s government has come under intense pressure since a deadly disaster at Novi Sad’s main railway station last November. Student-led protests have spiralled into a nation-wide resistance movement and for months, Serbians have been speaking out against corruption, a lack of accountability, and a culture of impunity in Aleksandar Vučić’s regime.…

1
Indies: Do Not Fear C4 And The Big Studios 44:53

7d ago44:53

44:53

Why indies shouldn’t fear Channel 4’s production arm - Derek Drennan, founder of Nest Productions talks to us about his business, and why IP isn’t the only game in town. Also on the show: as the industry mourns the passing of Alan Yentob, former BBC exec Paul Robinson takes us back to his 90s heyday. All that plus: the Telegraph is sold AGAIN - wil…

1
Between a smack and a hard place — Poland votes, Orbán provokes, and Brussels shows its teeth 33:49

5d ago33:49

33:49

Slaps were exchanged — some literal, some political — and suddenly Brussels isn’t just watching from the sidelines. This week on EU Confidential, we dive into a whirlwind of action across the continent: a presidential toss-up coming up this Sunday in Poland; Brussels turning up the pressure on Hungary over LGBTQ+ rights; and the EU’s rare public re…

1
A boozy lunch with Jo Coburn 40:16

5d ago40:16

40:16

Host Sascha O'Sullivan goes for lunch with Jo Coburn as she leaves her position as presenter of Politics Live, the BBC's lunchtime political programme. Over a carafe of Picpoul de Pinet, Coburn tells Sascha about keeping calm amid the din of politicians rowing with one another live on air. She discusses the most poignant episodes – and the rowdiest…

1
Hungary's plight, kids' rights, and Spargelzeit 56:58

6d ago56:58

56:58

Asparagus, lesbian family rights and Viktor Orbán’s latest power plays: like all good meals, this podcast episode is perfectly balanced. German food writer Ursula Heinzelmann joins us to explain the ‘Spargelzeit’ phenomenon that sees foodies going nutty for asparagus at this time of year. We’re also taking a look at LGBTQ rights in Italy and unpack…

1
ITV Cuts Loose: How Daytime Lost Its Lure 36:29

14d ago36:29

36:29

Rumours abound after Channel 4 plans to invest in indies as part of its in-house production arm strategy - and that’s just as ITV slashes its budgets for daytime. Broadcast reporter Heather Fallon tells us what it all means. Also on the programme: Gary Lineker is ‘sent off’ the BBC after a controversial social post. Did it all have to end like this…

1
Leo Varadkar on Donald Trump, and the EU’s Israel dilemma 39:57

12d ago39:57

39:57

The EU-Israel relationship is at a tipping point. This week on EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton breaks down how EU leaders are calling for scrutiny of a long-standing trade agreement between Brussels and Israel, as Gaza faces famine amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive. Rym Momtaz, editor-in-chief of the Strategic Europe blog at Carnegie E…

1
How to run your Cabinet: Lessons for Starmer 37:48

12d ago37:48

37:48

With tensions simmering in Keir Starmer’s top team over Labour’s approach to the economy, this week host Patrick Baker looks at what the PM might be able to learn about managing your ministers from past Cabinets and examines Starmer's own leadership style. David Owen, former foreign secretary under Jim Callaghan, recounts the IMF crisis in 1976 as …

1
What the hell just happened in Romania (and at Eurovision)? 1:09:09

13d ago1:09:09

1:09:09

Romania, Poland, Portugal... and of course, most importantly of all (?), Eurovision. It's been a huge week of voting across Europe! This week we're mostly diving into Romania's election drama with Codruţa Simina, a journalist with an extremely helpful specialism in online misinformation and disinformation. We're also tackling the controversy over I…

1
Can Labour still own the North? 48:55

19d ago48:55

48:55

With Nigel Farage's Reform UK muscling in to key parts of the country, Westminster Insider Host Sascha O'Sullivan speaks to politicians through the North of England, where Labour has an uphill battle to convince their heartlands they can be trusted. Sascha speaks to Labour MP Josh Simons, whose seat of Makerfield had one of the highest proportion o…

1
The crown slips: How queen Ursula failed her transparency test 30:32

25d ago30:32

30:32

Those text messages Ursula von der Leyen didn’t want to share? The EU’s top court says that’s not OK. In a win for transparency advocates, Europe’s judges have ruled that the European Commission was wrong to hold back von der Leyen’s text exchanges with Pfizer’s CEO during vaccine contract negotiations. POLITICO health reporter Mari Eccles joins ho…

51
ARIAS 2025, RAJARs & Radio 3's Renaissance 38:23

19d ago38:23

38:23

We are LIVE at the ARIAS - the Radio Academy’s annual awards for the sector. We’ll be speaking to the big winners about the state of the industry and striving for excellence in a digital world - as well as Radio Academy chief Aradhna Tayal Leach. Also on the programme: it’s RAJARs week - yes, the latest radio listening figures are out. Sam Jackson,…

1
Europe, an unfinished love story 17:52

20d ago17:52

17:52

This week, a not-so-classic 'girl meets boy' story. Başak Layic, storyteller extraordinaire, reflects on what the European Dream looks like from the outside. This story was recorded live at SPUI25 in Amsterdam as part of 'Europe Up For Grabs?', an event organised for Europe Day 2025 by DutchCulture and the European Cultural Foundation. You can watc…

1
Why The New Tariff Threat Can't Turn Back Time 54:39

26d ago54:39

54:39

Former BBC1, ITV controller and Expectation chief Peter Fincham joins us to discuss his new podcast, Insiders, on the secrets of the TV industry. We’ll find out what he makes of this week’s headlines. Also on the programme: as President Trump threatens tariffs on high end TV and Film, media writer Tara Conlan assesses the risks for the sector. All …

1
Populist currents and fragile coalitions: Trump’s shadow over Europe 31:53

27d ago31:53

31:53

Europe’s political center is wobbling. Again. In Germany, a dramatic Bundestag vote leaves new Chancellor Friedrich Merz bruised before he’s even begun. In Romania, the first round of the presidential election wipes out the mainstream — and puts a Trump-admiring provocateur on top. EU Confidential breaks down a week of shaken coalitions, rising pop…

1
How to survive the morning broadcast round 44:41

26d ago44:41

44:41

Politicians of all stripes will tell you that the slog of breakfast time interviews constitutes the morning ritual from hell. So this week on Westminster Insider, host Patrick Baker speaks to those who’ve spent more time than anyone trying to master the art form that is the “morning round” — and is given an exclusive broadcasting lesson from Scarle…

1
Is a pregnant nun about to crash Poland's election? 1:12:58

27d ago1:12:58

1:12:58

In theory, the government's guy looks set to win Poland's presidential election, making life a hell of a lot easier for Donald Tusk as he attempts to undo eight years of destructive authoritarian rule under the previous rightwing populists. But might a pregnant nun swoop in and change everything at the last minute? For an explanation of this metaph…

1
Politico: 10 Years In Europe... and a big C4 departure 46:02

1M ago46:02

46:02

Politico’s senior executive editor, Kate Day, tells us what’s in store for the original newsletter publisher. Also on the programme: Alex Mahon is set to leave Channel 4. Deadline’s senior investigations reporter Jake Kanter is here to divine what happens next. All that plus: Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd talks to us about just what he sacrificed to…

1
How Trump transformed Europe in just 100 days 39:15

1M ago39:15

39:15

After 100 days of U.S. President Donald Trump’s shock and awe, is the EU still stuck in stunned paralysis — or does it finally have a plan? POLITICO trade reporter Camille Gijs, tech reporter Eliza Gkritsi, defense editor Jan Cienski and senior climate correspondent Karl Mathiesen join host Sarah Wheaton to unpack the EU’s response on multiple fron…

1
How to make sense of Europe's place in the world right now 46:52

1M ago46:52

46:52

The world is in flux. What's Europe's place in it, exactly? This week, we're bringing you something different: a big, sprawling conversation with leading European historian Timothy Garton Ash. Can anything good come from Trumpism for this continent? What can be done to stop autocrats like Viktor Orbán from undermining the EU from the inside? And do…

1
How will Carney take on Trump? 30:51

1M ago30:51

30:51

One hundred days into Donald Trump’s second presidency and he’s already swung another election. How will Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, emboldened by his victory at the polls, take on Trump? Host Anne McElvoy talks to Ralph Goodale, who has been at the centre of Canadian politics for several decades and now holds one of the country’s top dipl…

1
A divorce and a birthday: Five years of Brexit, 10 years of POLITICO 44:21

2M ago44:21

44:21

With POLITICO turning 10 and Brexit hitting 5 earlier this year, this episode of EU Confidential takes stock of two milestones that shaped Brussels — in very different ways. Host Sarah Wheaton kicks things off with Zoya Sheftalovich, editor of Global Playbook, reflecting on POLITICO Europe’s early days and its first big scoop: Jean-Claude Juncker’s…

1
Why the next pope may be a 'break' from the past 24:15

1M ago24:15

24:15

As Catholics gather in Rome to mourn Pope Francis, those hoping to succeed him are preparing to engage in one of the world's oldest and most intriguing electoral contests. This week's guest knows the inner workings of the Vatican and the key players involved as cardinals gather for the next conclave. Host Anne McElvoy talks to Francis Campbell, who…

1
Hungary's Pride crackdown, Ukrainian sleuths, and 158 barrels of poop 1:06:27

1M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

We've got a veritable smörgåsbord for you this week on The Europeans, from human rights in Hungary to the sorry tale of two Danish sustainability influencers whose eco-resort business went spectacularly wrong. We discuss why Viktor Orbán is concentrating so much effort on bullying the LGBTQI community at a time when Hungary has major problems to fi…

1
Holiday special: Driving toward a trade war with China 31:33

2M ago31:33

31:33

This week, EU Confidential is on a spring break — but with trade tensions between the U.S. and the rest of the world (China in particular) escalating, we thought it was the perfect moment to revisit a timely episode from our archives. As Trump’s new trade war heats up, with triple-digit tariffs hitting Chinese goods and Beijing retaliating, the gl…

1
Inside Europe: Exploring Grief 54:31

2M ago54:31

54:31

We're away this week, but you're in good company: our friends at Deutsche Welle (DW), Germany's international broadcaster, are here to fill in for us. On this special edition of DW's weekly podcast Inside Europe, the team takes a break from the news to explore grief as a lens for understanding global events. Author Sarah Jaffe joins host Kate Layco…

1
Sham Experts, Luxury Podcasts & Radio 2 vs Ofcom 43:03

2M ago43:03

43:03

In the club today: the curious case of fictional experts... is AI driving a credibility problem when sourcing talking heads? Media writer Maggie Brown and broadcaster Alex Zane discuss Press Gazette’s excellent scoop... as well the launch of Alex’s new podcast, The Savoy Originals. Also on the programme: Ofcom puts the brakes on Radio 2’s spin-off.…

1
Trump blinks on tariffs. Can Europe exhale? 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

A tariff storm was brewing — and then, just like that, the forecast changed. Donald Trump shocked everyone by pausing his planned tariffs for 90 days (for all countries except China), throwing global markets a lifeline and leaving the EU wondering what game he’s playing. In this episode of EU Confidential, host Sarah Wheaton unpacks the fallout fro…

1
How the US-China trade war will do 'enormous damage' to the world 20:40

2M ago20:40

20:40

In a dramatic twist, President Trump announced an abrupt reversal of the tariff policy that had spooked the markets and threatened to upend world trade. While many trading partners have been given a temporary reprieve, Washington’s tit for tat with Beijing has reached new heights. Where does it leave the credibility of the Trump administration? Hos…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

POLITICO Europe Podcasts

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