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.
176
POLITICO reviews ‘The Diplomat’ — Meloni surpri...
We hear from former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe Ben Hodges on Ukraine. We also ask why Giorgia Meloni in Italy is struggling to spend EU recovery funds in time, and find out what European diplomats think of Netflix series “The Diplomat.”
36 min
177
Timothy Garton Ash on the future of Europe — Ev...
"We have created the best Europe there has ever been" — so says Timothy Garton Ash, this week's special guest. Meanwhile, former vice president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, is fighting more criminal allegations.
34 min
178
Ukraine grain strain — Von der Leyen 2.0 — EU d...
We're back from a break and straight into tackling the geopolitical tensions that underlie a sudden ban on Ukraine's grain exports by neighboring Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.
36 min
179
Finland joins NATO — Ukraine foreign minister i...
This week, Finland joins NATO while Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, joins us here in the POLITICO studio to talk about his own country's NATO ambitions.
31 min
180
France & Germany on strike – Commission Legal C...
The worst strikes and protests in decades bring both France and Germany to a standstill this week. We ask if this is just the beginning of Europe’s cost of living crisis?
35 min
181
Economic jitters, French upheaval, arms for Ukr...
Coming to you from this week’s European Council summit in Brussels, competitiveness and the economy are high on the agenda, alongside a historic EU agreement for joint arms procurement.
30 min
182
Das Auto debate — Activist Bill Browder on Russ...
We debate Germany's last-minute effort to derail EU plans to end the sale of combustion engines by 2035. And our special guest is author and activist Bill Browder.
35 min
183
Viktor Orbán's political director — Sponsored f...
This week, we debate a controversy over travel rules for top EU officials and unpack what the European Commission president is hoping to achieve during her visit to North America. Our special guest is Balázs Orbán.
33 min
184
New EU-UK chapter — VDL meets the king — Decodi...
This week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met King Charles III at Windsor Castle after a deal was sealed on a long-awaited solution to the post-Brexit trade row over Northern Ireland.
32 min
185
Russia's war in Ukraine, one year on: How Europ...
As we approach the one year mark of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU Confidential crew chronicles the historic policy shifts in the EU and European capitals with the help of Bulgarian political scientist, Ivan Krastev.
36 min
186
VDL's texts — MEPs arrested — Eurogroup Preside...
This week, we unpack some of the transparency issues plaguing the EU's top institutions, and our special guest is Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe on Europe's economic outlook.
33 min
187
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
188
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
189
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
190
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
191
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
192
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
193
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
194
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
195
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
196
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
197
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
198
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
199
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
200
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