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.
126
European Parliament in review — MEP unAwards 2024
Since the 2019 election this European Parliament has had to deal with various challenges, from Brexit and Covid-19 to the war in Ukraine and scandals such as Qatargate.
33 min
127
Brussels buzzwords of the week: competitiveness...
In this episode we unpack the EU's new buzzword and the main point of discussion at this week's European Council summit: competitiveness.
37 min
128
EU election latest: Knives out for Ursula von d...
With just weeks to go until the European Parliament election, we're bringing you the state of play.
34 min
129
'If you want peace, prepare for war': How an ol...
In this episode, we unpack the growing urgency among EU leaders to defeat Russia's Vladimir Putin.
30 min
130
Farmers lead the EU climate backlash
As EU leaders received a stark warning about the climate risks facing the bloc, the European Commission caved to farmer protests and demands to slash environmental requirements.
34 min
131
Portuguese voters' anger and what it means for ...
In this episode of, host Sarah Wheaton is joined by POLITICO’s Aitor Hernández-Morales, Barbara Moens and Nicholas Vinocur to break down the results of the vote and discuss what the far-right surge in Portugal could mean for the future of the EU.
31 min
132
Inside the European People's Party Congress 2024
On this bumper edition of EU Confidential, we take you inside the two-day European People Party's Congress in Bucharest.
58 min
133
European Parliament election 2024 — state of play
With less than 100 days until the European Parliament election, we bring you the state of play. Also, we hear from Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili about her country's ambitions to join the EU.
34 min
134
VDL 2.0 — How Europe and Ukraine have changed, ...
As we mark two years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we take stock of how the war has changed Europe — as well as life for Ukrainians under siege. Also, we look at Ursula von der Leyen's campaign to remain European Commission chief.
39 min
135
Europe responds to Donald Trump
In this episode of EU Confidential, we discuss reactions in European capitals to Donald Trump's latest comments on NATO and Russia.
29 min
136
Can the EU defend Ukraine (and itself)?
Europe is waking up to the urgent need to strengthen its own defenses — especially as Donald Trump seems poised to capture the Republican nomination and possibly even the White House in November presidential elections.
29 min
137
Europe's angry farmers and EU funds for Ukraine...
As farmer protests continue around Europe, we unpack their various concerns and analyze their impact on the European election. We also take you to an extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels where crucial cash for Ukraine hung in the balance.
31 min
138
'Rent is too damn high!' Europe’s growing housi...
In this episode we look at a crisis that is affecting many Europeans in most EU countries: skyrocketing rents and house prices, a shortage of flats, long waiting lists for social or affordable housing.
37 min
139
Can the EU manage migration?
After seven years of bitter wrangling, the EU has finally reached an agreement on how to handle migration — one of its most challenging and divisive issues.
25 min
140
EU top jobs kickoff — finding compromise with V...
In this episode we look at the ongoing tug-of-war between Budapest and Brussels in the context of a rather shocking development that could pave the way for Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán to chair meetings of EU leaders and set the EU agenda.
39 min
141
What's in store for Europe in 2024?
Our EU Confidential crew predicts how elections in Europe and around the world could impact pressing issues around the European Union.
36 min
142
Top EU stories of 2023 — POLITICO's guide
Our last episode of 2023 is a bumper edition, reviewing some of the key stories that drove the conversations in Brussels and throughout Europe this year.
45 min
143
Qatargate: Where do we stand a year after the c...
In this episode, we revisit the huge corruption scandal which shook the European Parliament and the EU bubble exactly one year ago.
36 min
144
The most powerful people in Europe (for better ...
This week, we take you inside our POLITICO 28 unveiling of Europe's most powerful people and unpack Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's comments on the Israel-Hamas war and her plans to run for the top job again.
34 min
145
Geert Wilders stuns with far-right election vic...
In this episode of EU Confidential, host Suzanne Lynch is joined by Eline Schaart and Nicholas Vinocur to break down the results of the Dutch election, and what it potentially means for the EU moving forward.
32 min
146
SPONSORED CONTENT: Carbon capture and storage t...
In this podcast episode produced by POLITICO Studio, science and technology writer Adam Green interviews leading European experts from industry and policy about the need for CCS, what’s holding it back and where it fits into Europe’s energy transition.
16 min
147
Spain's Pedro Sánchez to form new government as...
Ending months of political paralysis, we bring you up to speed on the turmoil in Spain that has left Pedro Sánchez clinging to power. T
29 min
148
The EU's report card: Ukraine, Moldova and othe...
The EU made important steps this week toward bringing new members into the bloc — our POLITICO team explains in this episode of EU Confidential.
30 min
149
The race to regulate AI before it's too late
In this episode of EU Confidential, we bring you a roundup of where things stand — after the London AI Safety Summit; the publication of the G7 AI code of conduct; and the signing by U.S. President Joe Biden the executive order on regulating AI.
32 min
150
EU leaders meet amid Israel-Hamas war
Coming to you directly from the European Council summit, our POLITICO team brings you the very latest on a range of difficult subjects facing EU leaders during their two-day meeting in Brussels.
21 min