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Brussels Playbook Podcast

Brussels Playbook Podcast

By: POLITICO
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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.POLITICO Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Are voters hopelessly divided or universally angry?

    Are voters hopelessly divided or universally angry?
    Jun 12 2026
    Across Europe, political instability, fragmentation and polarization are increasingly becoming the norm. But how are governments tackling these tensions? On this episode of the Brussels Playbook Week Ender, host Sarah Wheaton and her guests hone in on three countries: France, Greece and Denmark. Dialing in from Paris and Athens are our colleagues Clea Caulcutt and Nektaria Stamouli, and Jakob Moroza-Rasmussen, former secretary general of the centrist ALDE European political party, joins Sarah in the studio where he talks about his native Denmark. From the EU farm funds scandal in Greece, to the upcoming 2027 presidential election in France and Denmark’s new coalition government, they unpack the biggest news stories from each capital. While every country faces different challenges, they also reveal larger trends shaping the EU. If you have comments, do send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • The US embassy's divisive birthday bash

    The US embassy's divisive birthday bash
    Jun 11 2026
    The U.S. embassy’s mega 250th birthday bash in Brussels is one of the most sought-after events for the city’s top brass ... but it’s also drawing ire. Today on the show, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart discuss why MEPs and environmental activists are growing increasingly frustrated with this American July 4th celebration. The event is set to be attended by 5,000 people and will shut down the public Cinquantenaire park for up to 36 hours. Also on the show, we got our hands on the spending figures of lobby groups in the EU capital. Which country doles out the most cash to influence policymaking? We break it down. And finally: The FIFA World Cup officially kicks off today, so we ranked the tournament’s countries by metrics other than footie. If you have comments, do send us a voice note or message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 mins
  • When K-pop diplomacy hits Brussels

    When K-pop diplomacy hits Brussels
    Jun 10 2026
    South Korea’s president is in Brussels for the first EU-South Korea summit in three years — a visit that starts with K-pop diplomacy but quickly moves to chips, trade, defense and China. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart look at why Seoul has become such an important partner for Europe and why South Korea’s role in Europe’s rearmament push is also politically awkward. The due also discuss Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tightening her grip on another strategic file: defense. We unpack how the EU’s new Security Strategy is being shaped inside the Berlaymont, why the diplomatic service is being pushed to the margins and why capitals are watching closely. And finally: With the World Cup about to kick off, Brussels has its own football drama. The European Parliament’s annual football cup has produced coalition teams, fair-play penalties and now a handshake row between the Greens and the ECR. If you have comments, do send us a voice note or a message us on WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    16 mins
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