Podcast Selection

Germany’s fractured future

Sixteen years of Angela Merkel in Germany have ended in an election with a three-way split, and nothing yet is settled – including the legacy of Merkel, whose stability helped reshape a continent. The possible…

Will German Elections Set a New Direction after Merkel?

German voters prioritized stability in the first post-Merkel election—voting for the party who most emulated the former chancellor’s approach to government, the Social Democrats (SPD), instead of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). What does the…

Who is Olaf Scholz? — German election aftermath — EU-US trade and tech push

We dive into the aftermath of the German election and take a closer look at Olaf Scholz, the favorite to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor. We also unpack a new push by the EU and…

German Elections and Future of Euro Leadership

CSIS’s Europe and Eurasia Program director Heather Conley joins the podcast to discuss the German elections and what they mean for Germany and greater Europe’s future as well as its relationship with the United States.

EU–Western Balkans Summit, U.S. Budget Talks, and More

European Union and Balkan leaders hold a summit amid rising Kosovo-Serbia tensions, the U.S. Congress reaches a critical budget deadline, and the postponed Expo 2020 kicks off in Dubai.

The Vertical Block Exemption (VBER) Review

In this episode, we look at the Commission's draft Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and associated Guidelines, which are set to replace the existing 11 year old legislation in advance of its expiration. The Commission…

A green fiscal pact

"How can the European Union increase green public investment while consolidating budget deficits? Past crises and consolidation episodes have resulted in major public investment cuts. However, in order to meet the European Union’s climate goals,…

The subtext of France and Australia’s submarine deal

It was supposed to be an announcement of a pact, not the start of a foreign relations crisis between allies. But as Australia announced a new security partnership with the UK and the US, dubbed…

Sunday September 26: A Democratic showdown on Capitol Hill

Democrats are split as they head into a critical week on Capitol Hill: moderates and progressives can't agree on the scope or price tag of the reconciliation bill that addresses everything from climate change to…

German Elections: Replacing Angela Merkel

Doug welcomes Judy Dempsey ahead of pivotal German elections on September 26.

Exploding energy prices

"Why the sudden spike in European electricity and gas prices? Wholesale gas prices have reached record highs in the past months, leaving EU governments scrambling for emergency aid to help households cope with their rising…

Unboxing the State of the Union 2021

"In this Sound of Economics Live episode, Bruegel experts look at the State of the Union address delivered by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. On 15 September Ursula von der Leyen,…