Brussels Playbook Podcast
POLITICO
300 episodes
POLITICO’s daily audio briefing on what’s moving Brussels — and why it matters.
More about the show
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.
Episodes page 2 of 6
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What Iceland's 'no' means for the EU
Iceland has voted no to restarting membership talks with the EU in a referendum held over the weekend. While the yes camp had hoped rising global geopolitical tensions might sway voters, the fear of losing control…
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Could Orbán lead Hungary again?
For 16 years, Viktor Orbán exerted an iron grip on Hungarian politics and society. Now it’s being dismantled. Has Hungary finally turned a page on the Orbán era, or could he make one final return? It’s only a few days…
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Can Canada teach Europe how to stand up to Trump?
Canada is taking a much harder line against Donald Trump — and Brussels is watching closely. As the U.S.-Canada trade war escalates, Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson look at Mark Carney’s gamble, his call for the…
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France and Germany collide over Europe’s industrial future
France and Germany are clashing over how far the EU should go to protect European industry — with Paris pushing stronger “Made in Europe” rules and Berlin warning against provoking new trade fights. Zoya Sheftalovich…
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Costa tours the capitals — while Merz rallies the penny-pinchers
António Costa is kicking off a tour of EU capitals to find out what leaders want from the bloc’s next seven-year budget — and what they might accept in return for a deal. His first stop is Bratislava, with Slovakia…
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What Ukraine needs to survive another winter
We’re back! And so are Ukraine’s key backers. On the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union, leaders meet in Kyiv this Monday to discuss new pledges of support for the country. On the…
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Week Ender archives: Is China the ‘abusive’ partner the EU just can’t quit?
The Brussels Playbook Week Ender podcast is still away on holiday — but don’t worry, we will be back next week. In the meantime, here’s an episode from earlier this year about Europe’s attempts to protect its industry…
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Week Ender archives: Can Europe quit American Big Tech?
This week and next, the Brussels Playbook Week Ender podcast is away for the summer holiday. So, we thought we’d re-up this popular installment on Europe’s quest to become independent from U.S. tech. In this episode…
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Week Ender: Verhofstadt on "Trumpism", plus summer must-reads
It’s August in Brussels, which means it’s vacation time. Whether you’re heading off to the beach or holding down the fort in town, this episode is brimming with book recommendations from our newsroom and from you, our…
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Why are Commission staffers so miserable?
Working at the European Commission is one of the most coveted civil service jobs in Brussels. Yet, officials employed there describe high pressure, bureaucracy and burnout. Our colleague Seb Starcevic has interviewed…
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Europe's Palantir problem
Europe wants to kick its U.S. tech habit, but it’s struggling to detangle itself from American data analytics firm Palantir. The problem is, the company's tools are already deeply embedded in critical sectors across…
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Can Europe contain the Ceuta fallout?
Home affairs ministers are meeting this morning as the fallout of the Ceuta crisis continues to roil Europe. Last week’s sudden influx of migrants into the Spanish exclave — most of whom have since returned — sparked…
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Ceuta triggers two days of EU emergency talks
The crisis in the Spanish territory of Ceuta is adding fuel to Europe’s bitter debate over migration. Following the arrival of more than 50,000 migrants in Ceuta in northern Africa last week, EU leaders ganged up on…
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Week Ender — Searing Contradiction: Wildfires and climate politics
Wildfires may sound remote — something that happens deep in a forest or on an empty mountainside. But in Europe, there’s often very little distance between nature and major population centers. That’s why the fires near…
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The race to save von der Leyen’s big speech
Brussels may have entered summer mode, but one of the first big political moments everyone will be watching when they return to work is Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address in…
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The spectacular split in Poland’s right
Poland’s once-dominant Law and Justice party has split, with former PM Mateusz Morawiecki breaking with longtime leader Jarosław Kaczyński and preparing to build a rival force on the right. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian…
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Can Europe fight fires this big?
Wildfires raging across France and Spain have forced more than 300,000 people from their homes and stretched national firefighting services to their limits. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart look at how the EU is…
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Trump reopens the tariff fight
Icelanders begin voting on whether to restart accession talks with the European Union, reopening a debate shaped by security fears, economic uncertainty and the question of who controls the country’s fishing waters.…
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Will Europe warm to Britain's new Prime Minister?
He’s the seventh British prime minister to walk through the famous black door of Number 10 Downing Street since the Brexit vote 10 years ago. Can Andy Burnham refresh relations with Europe and rescue a reset with…
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Brussels is coming for Google — and the bill could be huge
Google could be hit with the largest fine yet under the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Zoya Sheftalovich and Kathryn Carlson explain why Brussels believes the tech giant is unfairly pushing its own services in Google Search…
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The EU’s Russia sanctions crunch
Today is a make-or-break moment for the EU’s 21st sanctions package targeting Russia. After EU countries failed to agree on the ins and outs of the deal last week, ambassadors are meeting again today in Brussels to…
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Zoya and the crew answer your questions
July 21 is a national holiday in Belgium, so we decided to do things a bit differently on this long weekend. We recently celebrated our 100th episode with a live recording in front of an audience. Those in the room…
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Week Ender: Did Europe dodge a summer travel crisis?
Europeans are traveling in huge numbers this summer — but the conflict in the Middle East, volatile fuel prices linked to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, and a troubled new border system are making journeys more…
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Parliament takes a break. The plotting begins.
The European Parliament’s 719 lawmakers are about to head off on their six-week summer break. But that doesn’t mean an end to the political headaches. That’s because as soon as they return on Aug. 31, lawmakers will…
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The border that vanished overnight
European allies are moving to help strengthen Ukraine as Kyiv ups the pressure in its war against Russia. As a part of that push, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and a group of EU leaders are making a…
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A 'Super Tuesday' for a bigger EU
Enlargement is high on the list of priorities for the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU ... and Dublin is not wasting any time. On the sidelines of the EU’s General Affairs Council happening today, there will…
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Why Europe still can’t agree on Israel
EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels as a growing group of countries push the European Commission to propose restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur explain why…
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Week Ender: Why Europe can’t avoid Erdogan
This week, NATO leaders gathered in Ankara — giving President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a powerful stage at a moment when Turkey’s strategic value to Europe is rising. Sarah Wheaton speaks to Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a visiting…
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Brussels gives cows a promotion
Far-right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen has announced she’ll run in the 2027 French presidential election, following Tuesday's shock court ruling which cleared the way for her to do so. But what does that mean for…
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NATO’s boss says Trump was right
The European Union is in disagreement over whether the Commission should allow Serbia to progress in its membership process. The issue will come to a head at a meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels today. While the…
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The verdict that could shake up French politics
Europe is on the edge of its seat as it awaits a crucial verdict in the case of France’s National Rally leader, Marine Le Pen, today. If the Paris appeals court upholds her five-year ban on holding public office, Le…
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The man behind the EU's Kremlin outreach
On today’s episode, we take a closer look at the busy life of António Costa’s right-hand man, Pedro Lourtie. The European Council President’s head of cabinet was recently thrust into the limelight for opening…
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Bonus episode: Ernstfall — What if Russia attacks NATO?
Today, we’re bringing you a special bonus episode from our colleagues at WELT. Originally released in German, Ernstfall is now available in English. What if Russia attacked NATO? How would Germany respond? And where…
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Can NATO allies avoid a clash with Trump in Ankara?
Despite all the backslapping and glad-handing, transatlantic tensions are never far from the surface at the annual gathering of NATO leaders. It’s unlikely to be any different when they gather in Ankara next week.…
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Has Ukraine found Russia’s weak spot?
Ukraine has a rare advantage over Russia … but only if its allies move fast enough to sustain it. After months of attacks on refineries, fuel depots and supply routes, Kyiv has finally hit Russia where it hurts.…
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Nobody touch the farm budget — our 100th episode, live from Brussels
We’re celebrating 100 episodes this summer! To mark this milestone, today’s show was recorded in front of a live audience with the full lineup of our rotating podcasts hosts. Kicking us off, Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian…
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Europe’s awkward embrace of Turkey
Three very senior EU heavyweights are on the ground in Turkey today — just days before the NATO summit in Ankara. When EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos and Migration Commissioner…
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Europe’s foreign policy turf war
The EU’s diplomatic service is losing power, people and influence to Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission. Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur look at how the EEAS is fighting for its future — and whether the bloc’s top…
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Can Europe help repair the invisible scars of war?
After four and a half years of war, Ukraine’s physical destruction is easy to see. But the psychological damage caused by occupation, displacement and loss is much harder to measure — although just as urgent to repair.…
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Rebuilding Ukraine under the shadow of a presidential row
Ukraine’s allies are gathering in Gdańsk to talk about rebuilding the country — even as Russia continues to destroy homes, power stations and critical infrastructure. Zoya Sheftalovich reports from the Ukraine…
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Can Europe’s big five get their act together in Berlin?
Europe’s biggest military powers are meeting today. The group of countries is called the E5 (not to be confused with the E3) and consists of France, Germany, the U.K., Italy and Poland. They’ll be preparing for the…
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The Visegrád Four is back from the dead
The leaders of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary are gathering for the first proper Visegrád Group summit in more than two years. Meetings of these four countries have essentially been frozen since Russia’s 2022…
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Why tensions are high between Poland and Ukraine
When Ireland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, they will have a lot of hot-button issues to deal with. Host Zoya Sheftalovich sat down last week with Irish Minister for European…
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Who should negotiate with Putin?
Brussels Playbook Week Ender host Sarah Wheaton is on the ground at the European Council summit, where divisions over European Council President António Costa's outreach to the Kremlin divided leaders and dominated an…
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Europe’s budget war starts now
EU leaders arrive in Brussels for a summit dominated by two major debates: How far Europe should go in confronting China and how the bloc should shape its next long-term budget. Zoya Sheftalovich and Sarah Wheaton…
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Von der Leyen won't run for a third term. Or will she?
Ursula von der Leyen is only a year and a half into her second term, but Brussels is already whispering about a third. Zoya Sheftalovich and Ian Wishart examine what is fueling the speculation — from her sweeping…
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The end of Brussels’ most important dinner party
The fight over the EU’s next seven-year budget is heating up. European affairs ministers are meeting in Luxembourg today to discuss the cash pot. Last week, the Cypriot presidency came up with concrete figures … but…
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Bardella warns Brussels he won’t moderate
French presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella wants Brussels to know that if he reaches the Élysée, he won’t follow Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s path from insurgent outsider to pragmatic EU power broker. POLITICO’s Marion…
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Are voters hopelessly divided or universally angry?
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…
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The US embassy's divisive birthday bash
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…
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