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.
226
EU-US subsidy spat — Senator Joe Manchin — Dian...
It's Wednesday, and we're back with another episode from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
28 min
227
Pessimistic CEOs — WEF after Klaus Schwab — Cry...
As the World Economic Forum gets underway, we dive into the stories everyone is talking about on the Magic Mountain.
25 min
228
POLITICO's World Economic Forum guide — Richard...
From Davos, Switzerland, the POLITICO crew unpacks the big global issues facing businesses, governments and international organizations as top leaders gather for this year's World Economic Forum.
26 min
229
From Stockholm: Sweden shifts right on crime an...
This week, the EU Confidential crew travels to Stockholm to examine Sweden's domestic political challenges such as migration, crime and climate — and we dive into the country's priorities as it takes on the presidency of the Council of the EU.
34 min
230
2023 crystal ball — Qatargate update — Slovenia...
It's a bumper edition to start the new year as we look ahead to the big stories likely to dominate the EU's agenda in 2023.
47 min
231
EU rocked by Qatar corruption scandal — 2022 hi...
Our final episode of 2022 is a bumper edition featuring the latest news and analysis of the Qatar corruption scandal centering around the European Parliament — and we look back on the incredible news year that was 2022.
47 min
232
From Tirana: Western Balkan bid — Author Misha ...
This week's episode comes to you from the Albanian capital of Tirana where EU leaders met with Western Balkan hopefuls. And we dive into the fascinating world of spies operating in Brussels.
28 min
233
Brewing EU-US trade war — Ukraine FM Dmytro Kul...
This week, we debate simmering industrial tensions in the EU over a new U.S. law. We also get an update on the situation in Ukraine, including from Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and discuss Europe's future.
29 min
234
Brussels' Twitter headache — Kyiv Mayor Vitali ...
This week, we debate how Europe is grappling with Twitter since Elon Musk took the helm. We hear from Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and discuss a new book about the EU's "Superstate" status.
36 min
235
G20 summit digested — Viktor Orbán's authoritar...
The annual gathering of G20 leaders in Bali, Indonesia was overshadowed by a deadly incident in Poland. In this week's show, we analyze reactions in Europe and around the world.
35 min
236
COP27 and Europe's climate role — A new Cold War?
On this week's episode, host Suzanne Lynch in Brussels speaks with Karl Mathiesen, POLITICO's senior climate correspondent, at the COP27 climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
38 min
237
Europe braces for US mid-term elections
As Americans head to the polls next week, we dive into transatlantic relations and the impact these elections could have on European policy and relations with Washington.
32 min
238
NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg — Commissioner Věra...
This week, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg discusses how the war in Ukraine has shaped the military alliance. We also dig into the EU's proposed law to protect media freedom and debate the controversy surrounding Germany's relationship with China.
34 min
239
Live from EU leaders meeting on energy, Ukraine...
This week's episode comes to you from the heart of the European Quarter in Brussels, where the 27 EU leaders are meeting once again for a European Council.
23 min
240
Putin's escalation — Western Balkan migration c...
pisode, POLITICO's Suzanne Lynch breaks down the reaction to Russia's recent escalation in Ukraine with an update from NATO headquarters.
39 min
241
From Prague: The European Political Community i...
This week's EU Confidential comes to you from Prague Castle, where leaders of the EU's 27 countries held a historic meeting with well over a dozen other nearby countries, including the United Kingdom, Turkey and Ukraine, among others.
26 min
242
Italian election — Pipeline problems — EU ambas...
We discuss the implications of Italy's election last weekend and what its probable next prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, could mean for Europe. Our special guest is Stavros Lambrinidis, the EU's ambassador to the United States.
31 min
243
UN General Assembly — Russian escalation — EU r...
Coming to you from New York City, this bumper edition of EU Confidential brings you the highlights of the U.N. General Assembly and gets reaction from European leaders on Russia's recent threat of military escalation.
38 min
244
State of the European Union — MEPs debate
Coming to you from Strasbourg, EU Confidential breaks down this week's big EU moment: the State of the Union address delivered by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
36 min
245
Energy emergency — Canada's EU ambassador — New...
New host Suzanne Lynch digs into the EU's plans to address its energy crisis. Our special guest is Canadian Ambassador to the EU Ailish Campbell.
33 min
246
Monkeypox in Europe — Big Tech vs. Telecoms battle
In this bumper edition before the summer break, we explain the monkeypox outbreak in Europe and the EU's response. We also preview the biggest lobbying battle brewing in Brussels between Big Tech platforms and telecom operators.
39 min
247
Russian propaganda — Macron in Africa — Cities ...
We debate what the EU and its leaders can do to counter Russian propaganda, particularly in Africa, about the global food crisis. And we tell the story of Umeå, Sweden, which has become a trailblazer in incorporating gender equality into urban design.
27 min
248
Heat wave — Energy vs. climate — Crypto spotlight
We dive into the politics of this week's hot topic — Europe's response to a devastating heat wave and how that impacts current energy troubles. We also look into a debate over crypto currencies and how they should be regulated across the EU.
31 min
249
Summer travel chaos — Combustion engines' end —...
Our POLITICO mobility team takes over this episode — unpacking the issues facing the travel industry this summer and what European policymakers can do to address them.
43 min
250
EU Home Affairs chief Ylva Johansson — Aussie r...
As drama unfolds across the English Channel, we look at where things stand with the EU's migration policy and examine EU-Australian relations.
36 min