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.
76
Notes on a scandal — will a fraud probe upend t...
Brussels was jolted this week by dawn raids and an alleged fraud probe involving current and former senior EU diplomats.
39 min
77
Peace plan panic: Does the EU still have a say ...
Washington–Moscow peace maneuvers caught Europe off guard this week — raising questions about the EU’s continued relevance and readiness at a pivotal moment for Ukraine.
37 min
78
Inside Europe’s far right — going pro and going...
When Europe’s biggest political family crosses the aisle to vote with the far right, something fundamental shifts in Brussels.
30 min
79
Growing pains: Can the EU handle enlargement?
Russia’s war in Ukraine has given new momentum to EU enlargement — and raised a bigger question: Is the bloc itself ready to grow?
39 min
80
Pornography, children and privacy: Europe's dig...
Europe faces a growing dilemma: how to protect children online without breaking digital privacy for everyone.
31 min
81
How to lose a Dutch election — and still win one
Is it enough to come first in an election?
32 min
82
How about them assets — making Russia pay for U...
The EU wants to lend €140 billion in cash from frozen Russian funds to Ukraine;
33 min
83
How to go from hero to zero, with Emmanuel Macr...
French President Emmanuel Macron has gone from “Mr. Europe” eight years ago to the solitary man by the Seine.
34 min
84
How not to fall: Behind von der Leyen’s fightba...
While the French government collapses in Paris, Ursula von der Leyen stands unshaken in Strasbourg.
44 min
85
Humiliating Europe: Trump’s culture war and the...
What do Donald Trump’s culture war, Moldova’s EU ambitions, and Czechia’s upcoming parliamentary election have in common?
35 min
86
Escalating trouble – Trump takes on the UN and ...
Trump says Ukraine can win — but should Europe believe him?
30 min
87
Jourová’s secrets and Putin’s drone tests
From rule of law battles to inside stories, Věra Jourová looks back on a decade in the Berlaymont.
39 min
88
Ursula’s Fight Song — who’s singing along?
“Europe is in a fight.” With those words, Ursula von der Leyen set the tone for her State of the European Union speech — framing this as Europe’s “Independence Moment.”
36 min
89
Tyrants are forever: Has Europe missed its moment?
Under the jackhammers on Schuman, Brussels is filling back up for the rentrée — and the fault lines are showing.
33 min
90
Limping through the Trump era: Can Europe lead ...
From a picturesque mountain resort in Austria, at the European Forum Alpbach, host Sarah Wheaton unpacks fresh threats by the U.S. to hit countries with tariffs over their digital rules — drawing instant reactions from the European Commission’s Sabine Weyand and Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.
34 min
91
EU's sweaty summer — what you missed (and what ...
Just when we thought we could get a break for the summer, geopolitics had other plans.
30 min
92
Escape the EU Bubble: Expert Summer Book Picks
This week, we’re taking a breath. EU Confidential is stepping away from summits, trade battles, and late-night trilogues — and turning to something more refreshing: books.
32 min
93
The €2 trillion question: Inside the battle ove...
Trillions of euros, almost as many priorities — and just over two years to agree. The European Commission has unveiled its sweeping new seven-year budget proposal, and the fight over where the money goes is already heating up.
35 min
94
No-confidence vote: Is the EU Parliament about ...
Ursula von der Leyen survived a motion of censure — but not without sustaining damage.
39 min
95
Boiling in Brussels: Climate fights and Orbán v...
Europe baked, the Atomium shut early — and Brussels finally unveiled its long-delayed climate target.
35 min
96
Of Daddies and Queens — from Trump to von der L...
This week’s episode of EU Confidential comes to you from the Europa building in Brussels. We’ve been covering not one but two high-stakes gatherings, starting with NATO’s June 24-25 summit in The Hague
32 min
97
What’s really behind Europe’s 5% defense push
As NATO leaders prepare to endorse a dramatic defense spending hike, Europe faces a reckoning: Where will the money come from — and will new tanks mean cuts to pensions?
42 min
98
All about the €€€: How Bulgaria’s euro dreams c...
Bulgaria’s big step toward using the euro is a victory for European unity — but the country itself isn’t united on whether joining the common currency is a good idea.
39 min
99
Can Europe’s Trump counterpunch work? Sanctions...
Trump is finally facing some resistance. Can Europe seize the moment?
37 min
100
Between a smack and a hard place — Poland votes...
Slaps were exchanged — some literal, some political — and suddenly Brussels isn’t just watching from the sidelines.
30 min