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.
276
Zelenskyy in Brussels: the worst-kept secret in...
Coming to you during Thursday's meeting of EU leaders, we discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's (not so) surprise visit to Brussels, as well as other topics on the agenda: migration and Europe's response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.
27 min
277
EU-Ukraine summit — Fighter jets? — Moldovan Pr...
All eyes are on Ukraine as the EU's top officials visit Kyiv for a historic summit — the first to be held in an active war zone. And Moldovan President Maia Sandu is our special guest.
31 min
278
Scholz's tanks for your assistance — EU finance...
Our POLITICO team has the inside scoop on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's long-awaited decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and how it's landing internationally. Also, our special guest is EU financial services commissioner Mairead McGuinness.
30 min
279
From Davos: Tanks to Ukraine — Irish PM Leo Var...
The EU Confidential crew takes you inside this week's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where the world's rich and powerful are gathered.
25 min
280
Director Oliver Stone talks nuclear power — EU ...
It's Thursday morning and today we bring you bumper editions from Davos with our final episode of the week landing later this evening.
25 min
281
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
282
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
283
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
284
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
285
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
286
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
287
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
288
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
289
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
290
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
291
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
292
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
293
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
294
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
295
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
296
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
297
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
298
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
299
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
300
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