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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Ep 165: Golfgate and Hogan's resignation — Trum...
EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan's resignation, the "golfgate" controversy surrounding his decision and what this means for the European Commission is the hot topic of this week's episode, and our special guest is transatlantic expert Dan Hamilton.
28 min
327
Campaign Confidential #2: Republican National C...
We take you to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in this episode of our pop-up podcast series on the U.S. elections, hosted by Ryan Heath, and break down what is motivating Trump voters in 2020 — including in key states like Pennsylvania. We also e
22 min
328
Ep 164: Belarus crisis — Germany's environment ...
The EU's approach to the Belarus crisis and a new transatlantic battle over sanctions on Iran are up for debate in this week's episode, while Germany's Environment Minister Svenja Schulze sets out her plans to steer EU climate policy.
36 min
329
Campaign Confidential #1: Democratic National C...
The first episode in a brand new pop-up series on the U.S. elections.
18 min
330
Trailer: Campaign Confidential
A sneak preview of our new pop-up podcast on the U.S. elections, Campaign Confidential, launching next week.
3 min
331
POLITICO EU Confidential Trailer
From Brussels, Berlin, Paris and London — Europe’s premier political podcast.
1 min
332
Ep 163: New coronavirus concerns — MEP Evelyn R...
Fears of a coronavirus second wave, a campaign for gender equality at the top of the EU, and the U.S. presidential election all feature in this week's episode.After weeks of intense debate over the economic response to the pandemic, the focus in Europe
30 min
333
Ep 162: EU budget and recovery summit — Deal, d...
The POLITICO team breaks down the details — and the drama — behind the deal struck by EU leaders on a €1.82 trillion financial package during a historic five-day summit in Brussels.Using audio clips from key players and drawing on behind-the-scenes rep
29 min
334
Ep 161: Summit state of play — Polish election ...
The EU's budget and recovery plan, the Polish election outcome and the "tribalization" of Europe are all up for debate in this week's episode.POLITICO's Lili Bayer has the latest take on where things stand as EU leaders gather at the negotiating table t
33 min
335
Ep 160: Europe's chief prosecutor — French resh...
Emmanuel Macron's reshuffle, Angela Merkel's Brussels trip and Europe's approach to China all feature in this week's episode, as well as an interview with the EU's first chief prosecutor.POLITICO's France Correspondent Rym Momtaz analyzes Macron's gover
27 min
336
Ep 159: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić — Ma...
A Green wave in France, the speaking styles of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić all feature in this week's podcast. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz in Paris explains what Green wins in local polls mean for Macron, while Matt
27 min
337
Ep 158: French & Polish elections — Germany's E...
The podcast crew marks your political calendar with previews of elections in France and Poland as well as Germany's presidency of the EU Council. Rym Momtaz in Paris looks ahead to Sunday's second round of French local elections and discusses the stakes f
34 min
338
Ep 157: Peter Mandelson's WTO bid — Recovery re...
Peter Mandelson, former EU trade commissioner and British Cabinet minister, throws his hat into the ring to be the next boss of the World Trade Organization (WTO). He makes his pitch as to why he could pull the WTO out of crisis — and why Britain's Conser
33 min
339
Ep 156: VP Věra Jourová on disinformation — US ...
European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová joins us to discuss the EU executive's plan to crack down on disinformation related to the coronavirus. The document specifically accuses China and Russia, as well as home-grown peddlers of disinformation,
36 min
340
Ep 155: Protests spread — G7 drama — French MEP...
The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers sparked protests in the United States, as well as in Europe. POLITICO's Rym Momtaz, Matthew Karnitschnig and David M. Herszenhorn debate the reaction from European leaders, includi
35 min
341
Ep 154: Commission's €750B recovery plan — Batt...
The European Commission this week unveiled a sweeping €750 billion proposal to get the EU's economies back on track. POLITICO's budget guru Lili Bayer, along with Andrew Gray, Matthew Karnitschnig and Rym Momtaz break down the plan and preview the battles
35 min
342
Coronavirus edition #11: Reviewing Europe's res...
As countries ease lockdowns and try to move toward normality, we take stock of Europe's response to the coronavirus so far. We pick out key themes and moments, offer a behind-the-scenes peek at our coverage and look at the challenges to come.POLITICO's
32 min
343
Ep 153: Merkel & Macron's Recovery Fund — Econo...
It was big and bold and came out of the blue — Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron took Europe by surprise with a plan for a €500 billion EU recovery fund. Was it a historic moment for Europe? How would the scheme work? And can the skeptics be won over? POL
33 min
344
Coronavirus edition #10: MEP Pascal Canfin on g...
How green will Europe's economic revival be? Pascal Canfin, the chair of the European Parliament's environment committee, outlines what MEPs want to see from the EU's recovery plan. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron outlined their vision for that plan thi
26 min
345
Ep 152: Timothy Garton Ash — Second wave — War ...
Timothy Garton Ash, professor of European studies in the University of Oxford, doesn't mince words about the challenges — and opportunities — facing the European Union as it tries to navigate its way out of the coronavirus crisis. His Europe’s Stories pro
35 min
346
Coronavirus edition #9: Talking Tedros: WHO chi...
We turn the spotlight on World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the man at the center of a global public health crisis and a geopolitical storm. POLITICO's Sarah Wheaton talks about her recent profile of Tedros and the challenges he f
28 min
347
Ep 151, presented by the Croatian presidency: C...
What standards should we expect from politicians, professors and public health experts as they guide us through this crisis? And where does science end and politics begin? POLITICO's Andrew Gray, Matthew Kartnischnig, Rym Momtaz and Kate Day debate those
30 min
348
Coronavirus edition #8: Pledge drive — Getting...
Pledges of billions of euros to fight the coronavirus rolled into a conference hosted by the European Commission on Monday — but how much of that money is new and where will it go? POLITICO healthcare reporter Jillian Deutsch breaks down the results of th
23 min
349
Ep 150: Chinese propaganda — Economist Thomas P...
French economist Thomas Piketty has some big ideas about how Europe should respond to the coronavirus crisis. He shared them in a livestreamed conversation with POLITICO earlier this week, and Brussels Playbook author Florian Eder joins us to talk through
31 min
350
Coronavirus edition #7: Commissioner Elisa Ferr...
Elisa Ferreira, the European commissioner for cohesion and reforms, is directly involved in crafting the EU's economic response to the coronavirus. She speaks with POLITICO's Lili Bayer about how the Commission plans to use regional development cash from
18 min