Podcast Selection

Das Auto debate — Activist Bill Browder on Russia’s political prisoners

We debate Germany's last-minute effort to derail EU plans to end the sale of combustion engines by 2035. And our special guest is author and activist Bill Browder, discussing how the EU can take a…

Political advertising: progress and prospects as trilogues begin

Over two years ago, the Commission announced its planned regulation on political advertising, designed to increase transparency and clamp down on disinformation in EU elections. Trilogue negotiations on the proposed regulation are now underway, with…

A vote for Ukraine: why Estonia’s election matters

The world’s biggest military donor to Ukraine, relative to GDP, is Estonia. Kaja Kallas, its prime minister, just won a resounding victory in an election that was effectively a referendum on continued support for Ukraine.…

France’s pension protests and the future of work

More than a million people have protested Fran's pension reform, which was formally presented last Monday. With more demonstrations planned, is Macron risking civil unrest to get his plan through?

Sweden’s NATO bid: Is Erdogan blocking it to win the elections?

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast Alexandra Brzozowski and Evi Kiorri are discussing the tension between Turkey and Sweden, specifically how Turkey is blocking Sweden’s accession to NATO. We’re also looking at the reasons behind…

Orban vetoes Ukraine aid after EU blocks Hungary’s fund

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, Evi Kiorri discusses Hungary’s veto on the EU’s financial aid to Ukraine. Relations between the EU and Hungary seem to be tenser than ever after the latter…

Germany first? Scholz accused of disloyalty by France and EU partners

This Wednesday saw a working lunch between Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz – a meeting stripped of fanfare and followed up with no press conference, simply a laconic tweet from the German side. Just how…

Why is the far-right growing in Europe?

This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we discuss how the far right is growing, as Giorgia Meloni’s leadership and the rapid rise of far-right governments in Europe create concern amongst leftist parties and…

How Europe Helped Normalise Giorgia Meloni

Georgia Meloni was 19 and speaking to French TV when she praised Italian dictator and Hitler-ally Benito Mussolini. Back then the likely next prime minister of Italy was dressed all in black and flanked by…

Assessing the State of the Union 2022

In this episode, we look at the State of the Union address delivered by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. On 14 September 2022 Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European…

Italy’s right-wing nationalists on the rise

Italians go to the polls on 25 September after the collapse of the country’s 69th government in just 77 years. Polls suggest a conservative coalition - likely led by the right wing nationalist Brothers of…

Why Do Italian Governments Collapse So Often?

The country has had 67 governments in the past 75 years. Why are Italian politics so chronically unstable, and what does the economy have to do with it?