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    News & Politics

    Brussels Playbook Podcast

    POLITICO’s daily audio briefing on what’s moving Brussels — and why it matters.

    The Brussels Playbook Podcast is the audio extension of the Brussels Playbook newsletter. Hosted by POLITICO’s chief EU correspondent, Zoya Sheftalovich, the podcast runs Monday through Thursday, offering a clear, reporting-driven guide to EU politics in under 15 minutes. It’s a perfect companion for your morning coffee.

    Each episode takes listeners inside the decisions, power shifts and debates shaping the day in Brussels — and explains how they connect to national capitals across Europe.

    Clear, conversational and shaped by reporting from the heart of the EU, the Brussels Playbook Podcast brings context to EU politics as your day begins.

    On Fridays, the same feed features a longer episode that goes deeper into the week’s biggest themes, offering context and analysis beyond the daily news cycle — with Sarah Wheaton behind the mic. 

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    Latest Episodes:
    Berlin turns up the heat Apr 27, 2026
    Show notes

    Europe is staring down a familiar and unwelcome set of circumstances: rising energy prices, slowing growth and growing political pressure.

    As the fallout from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran ripples through global markets, EU governments are scrambling to cushion the blow — with far fewer tools than they had when the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered the last energy crisis.

    Zoya Sheftalovich is joined by Nick Vinocur to unpack what this new economic shock could mean — not just for households, but for Europe’s political center.

    Also on the pod: German conservatives turn up the heat on Ursula von der Leyen — and Belgium looks to keep the lights on in its shops a little longer.

    Got a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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    Don't aggravate Trump on Iran: Veteran US ambassador to NATO's friendly advice to European leaders Apr 24, 2026
    Show notes

    The fragile ceasefire in the Persian Gulf and the uncertainty over peace talks between the U.S. and Iran have cast a long shadow over European capitals hoping for an end to hostilities in the Middle East. Will they have any say over what happens next?

    The wars in Iran and Ukraine have exposed the chasm between U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration in Washington and opinion on this side of the Atlantic. Each time the president attacks NATO and the contribution of European countries to the alliance, confidence in its durability weakens.

    Host Anne McElvoy talks to Kurt Volker, whose job it was to manage relations between the U.S. and NATO allies as former ambassador to the organisation. He later served as U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, handling the negotiations during the first Trump administration.

    And later in this episode, Anne hears from Ian Wishart, who’s in Cyprus covering the informal summit of EU leaders. How will they wrestle with the war in Iran and its ongoing economic fallout?

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    Too many crises for one summit? Apr 23, 2026
    Show notes

    On today's show, Ian is in the sunny Mediterranean nation of Cyprus for the biggest gathering of EU leaders on the island for many, many years.

    Sarah joins from Brussels and Nick dials in from Greece, where he’s attending the Delphi Economic Forum.

    Expect the agenda of the leaders' summit today and tomorrow to be heavy on geopolitics. High on the list of topics to discuss are the Iran crisis, high energy prices, the EU’s long-term budget and how the bloc can defend itself. So, pretty high stakes, then.

    Over in Greece, Nick points out that — much to his surprise — several high-profile MAGA figures have shown up in force at the Delphi Economic Forum. With Hungarian leader and Trump ally Viktor Orbán on the way out, it seems the movement aligned with the U.S. president is looking for new friends.

    Got a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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    The clock is ticking on the EU’s next budget Apr 22, 2026
    Show notes

    Brussels faces a narrowing window to strike a deal on its next long-term budget.

    EU leaders gather in Cyprus this week for a potential clash over the bloc’s €1.8 trillion plan — already dividing north and south, farmers and reformers, capitals and Brussels. Council President Antonio Costa wants momentum. But with proposed new EU taxes, debt repayments and looming elections on the table, compromise looks distant.

    On today’s episode, Ian Wishart and Ryan Heath break down what’s at stake — and why this battle is only just beginning.

    They also dig into the Commission’s new emergency energy package, as fears of a new crisis grow — driven by the war in Iran and disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

    Plus: A rekindled Paris–Brussels romance raises awkward questions about power, politics and conflicts of interest.

    Got a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

    Further reading:

    • Magyar wants to put the Austro-Hungarian Empire back on the map
    • Germany spearheads effort to weaken EU's AI rules

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    No Orbán, no excuses Apr 21, 2026
    Show notes

    EU foreign ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss a hefty list of geopolitical crises. But compared with past gatherings, something feels ... different.

    That might be because, without the presence of an obstructionist Hungary, the meeting could finally result in movement on several key topics. Ian and Sarah discuss whether we can expect decisive action to be taken on issues like the unblocking of aid to Ukraine or possible sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

    Next, we give you the lowdown on the election results in Bulgaria where ex-fighter-jet pilot Rumen Radev won big. Some diplomats here in Brussels are wondering if perhaps we’re looking at another Viktor Orbán type of leader.

    Also, with Brussels urging Europeans to cut back on travel to save fuel, MEPs are also scrutinizing their monthly trips to Strasbourg.

    Finally, we have a message from our host Zoya Sheftalovich, who's on vacation in Australia ... and isn't very happy with Ian. That's not all: Carrie Budoff Brown, our executive editor, also dials in with a special birthday shout out.

    Do you have a question or a comment? Contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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    SPONSORED EPISODE: Energy, security and the new European risk landscape  Apr 20, 2026
    Show notes

    Europe, in efforts to disentangle itself from Russian gas, has become increasingly aware of the vulnerability of its web of pipelines, subsea cables and offshore installations to hybrid attacks.

    A million kilometers of undersea cables transport 95 percent of the world’s internet traffic, and more than 200,000 kilometers of active oil and gas pipelines run across Europe. That physical infrastructure is at risk amid an escalation in hybrid attacks. The attacks on cables and pipelines are across frontiers and jurisdictions, mandating the need for a cross-border, coordinated response.

    In this special podcast episode produced by POLITICO Studio for Equinor, policy experts and industry leaders come together to discuss the vulnerabilities facing Europe’s energy infrastructure, and the collaborative approach to resilience that is on the rise.

    Hear from Oana Lungescu, former NATO spokesperson; Petya Barzilska, head of research and policy at the European Initiative for Energy Security; Camilla Salthe, executive vice president for Safety, Security and Sustainability at Equinor; and Emilie Asberg, CEO of Oslo-based deeptech startup Havguard, on the new security responsibilities emerging for Europe’s governments and industries.

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    The Board of Peace, EU edition Apr 20, 2026
    Show notes

    This week's agenda is brimming with high-level summits and meetings on foreign affairs. The EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, kicks it all off by focusing minds on Gaza.

    Today Kallas hosts back-to-back events to promote a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ian and Nick discuss how the EU is using the occasion to position itself as an authority on the future of Gaza and present an alternative worldview to Donald Trump's. Plus, they explain how Viktor Orbán's defeat in the recent Hungarian election could impact EU-Israel relations.

    Later, we unpack the key issues to be discussed at this week’s summit of EU leaders in Cyprus, and the potential knock-on effect it could have on the beleaguered tourism industry.

    Last, the EU is celebrating its birthday on the wrong day, according to some. Nick sets the record straight.

    Does your country have a culinary delicacy whose name resembles that of one of our hosts? If so, contact us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29.

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    What Orbán’s ouster means for MAGA, Le Pen and Brussels Apr 17, 2026
    Show notes

    Election night in Hungary was an emotional and teary one ... but now, the work begins.

    The winners — Peter Magyar’s Tisza party — have the daunting task of reversing years of democratic backsliding that went on under Viktor Orbán’s watch. Meanwhile, Fidesz — and far-right parties across Europe — have some intense soul searching to do to figure out what went wrong in Orbán’s campaign.

    Our panel of guests includes POLITICO’s White House Correspondent Eli Stokols and our Senior France Correspondent Clea Caulcutt in Paris, along with Balazs Kos, a Hungarian consultant and expert on EU affairs. Together with host Sarah Wheaton, they dive deeper into what the outcome means for Brussels and the MAGA movement across the pond.

    We also speak with Frank Furedi of MCC Brussels, a think tank with links to Orbán’s government. He gives us a breakdown of why he believes the Fidesz campaign failed.

    Do you have a question or a comment? Send us a WhatsApp message here or dial +32 491 05 06 29.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Can an ex-fighter-jet pilot run Bulgaria? Apr 16, 2026
    Show notes

    Viktor Orbán may be out — but his man in Brussels is not.

    Today on the pod, Ian and Sarah discuss how the Hungarian Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi is expected to stay on in the Berlaymont after his Fidesz party's landslide election loss back home. They explain why neither the Commission nor the new Hungarian government are in a rush to get rid of the Orbán ally.

    Next, they talk about the frontrunner in Bulgaria's upcoming vote — an ex-fighter jet pilot. It's the eighth election in five years and voters are hoping for the country to regain political stability.

    Plus, chaos has hit airports around Europe as the EU rolls out its new digital border control system. People are missing their flights and waiting in queues for hours.

    Has your flight travel been disturbed by this new Entry/Exit system? We want to hear from you! You can contact us on WhatsApp here or on +32 491 05 06 29.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The rise of the centrist dads Apr 15, 2026
    Show notes

    European ambassadors are gathering to prep for a leaders’ summit taking place in Cyprus next week. And yet again, the agenda will likely be dominated by geopolitical crises.

    Ian Wishart and guest co-host Ryan Heath explain how topics like the budget, enlargement and competitiveness are falling by the wayside as the bulk of the meeting will instead focus on the fallout of the Iran war. They also ask whether another leader will take over Viktor Orbán's role as the bad boy around the summit table.

    Next, centrist dads unite! We discuss how Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Canadian PM Mark Carney — running partners and friends who text each other regularly — are trying to build a new transatlantic alliance along with other middle powers.

    Also, Donald Trump’s backpedaling on a social media post that appeared to depict himself as Jesus Christ has us looking through the archives for other classic excuses used by politicians.

    Finally: The halloumi wars continue ... and Ryan weighs in with his cheesy take.

    Do you have any questions or comments for us? Sent them to our WhatsApp here or via +32 491 05 06 29.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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