Radio Atlantic If Hungary Can Do It
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Apr 16, 2026 
Anne Applebaum, historian of autocracy who explains how illiberal leaders build power. Veronika Munk, Hungarian reporter who covered Budapest’s streets during the vote. They discuss Orban’s decline, how propaganda clashed with rising cost-of-living realities, media crackdowns and newsroom resistance, and what Hungary’s turnaround might mean for politics beyond its borders.
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Street Celebration After Orban's Defeat
- Veronika Munk described on-the-ground jubilation after Viktor Orban's defeat with thousands dancing, hugging, and crying in Budapest.
- She recalled getting hugs from strangers and compared it to the 1990 system-change celebrations, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Mass Resignation From Index Newsroom
- Veronika Munk recounted the 2020 collapse of Index when over 80 journalists resigned after new management interfered.
- She said the team quit together because they couldn't operate independently and it was the hardest and easiest decision of her life.
Propaganda Cannot Permanently Replace Reality
- Veronika Munk argued that propaganda and democracy cannot coexist because people ultimately rejected Orban's distorted reality.
- She pointed to economic pain, corruption, and daily hardships that made manufactured narratives lose traction.