Brussels Playbook Podcast

Ebba Busch, Sweden’s deputy prime minister and energy minister known for leading the Christian Democrats, advocates a tougher stance on Russia and faster European action. She warns EU bureaucracy slows sovereignty. She pushes for stronger defense, stricter migration rules, and nuclear energy as reliable baseload.

EU leaders gather at Alden Biesen to debate how to revive competitiveness, from capital markets to energy prices. Tensions over protectionism versus open markets and the idea of a two-speed Europe come under scrutiny. A legal showdown over Hungary’s frozen funds and its political fallout looms. Plus, a lighthearted look at why leaders pick castles and listener karaoke shoutouts.

Discussions focus on EU defense talks in Brussels, including Ukraine’s funding and procurement debates. Leaders weigh a €90 billion loan and the rollout of the SAFE defense plans. Industrial heavyweights and EU leaders gather in Antwerp to debate boosting Europe’s competitiveness and auto industry concerns. Local politics and disappearing Irish pubs also come up.

They unpack bold, unconventional ideas to speed Ukraine toward EU membership, including provisional or membership-light routes. They debate the political obstacles in Brussels and how leaders might navigate vetoes and timing tied to peace talks. They also tackle Europe’s push to boost competitiveness and whether a leaders’ retreat can jumpstart economic reform. Finally, they mourn the loss of beloved Brussels pub spots for informal diplomacy.

Zoya Sheftalovich, POLITICO’s Chief EU correspondent who reports on EU politics. Mateusz Morawiecki, former Polish prime minister and ECR president who pushes for closer transatlantic ties. They debate an “economic NATO” idea. They discuss tariff alignment, shared standards, Europe's push to de-risk from the U.S., industrial gaps like chips and arms, and how Ukraine and security concerns shape choices.

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 the 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.  **A message from Amazon: Across Europe, businesses are growing with the AWS Cloud to build innovative, scalable products. From Europe’s largest enterprises and government agencies to the continent’s fastest growing startups, learn more about how AWS Cloud is helping businesses across Europe grow at AWS.eu.** Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Featuring Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation; Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, MEP pushing stricter digital protections; Nick Vinocur, POLITICO foreign affairs analyst; and Camille Gijs, POLITICO trade reporter who covered the New Delhi signing. They tackle social media age limits, deepfakes and child protections. Then they move to the EU–India trade and defense agreement, its optics, trade wins and geopolitical limits.

Zoya Sheftalovich, a keen observer of EU politics, Nick Vinocur, an expert on transatlantic relations, and Tim Ross, who covers European Council dynamics, dive into the aftermath of Trump's unpredictable moves at Davos. They discuss how his tariff threats rattled EU leaders and prompted an emergency summit. The trio also reveals the challenges surrounding issues like the Gaza 'Board of Peace' and the stalled Mercosur deal, questioning Europe’s trust in diplomacy and emphasizing the need for strategic autonomy in the face of shifting global relations.

Elina Valtonen, the Finnish foreign minister, discusses Arctic security and NATO's role amid geopolitical tensions. Edgars Rinkēvičs, Latvia's president, emphasizes the importance of Greenland remaining part of Denmark while reflecting on Europe’s defense identity. Anita Anand, Canada's foreign minister, outlines Canada’s priorities in the Arctic and growing trade with China. Harvard economist Ken Rogoff warns of the economic implications of US trade policies and tariffs, suggesting Europe must bolster its economic leverage.

Arancha González-Laya, former Spanish foreign minister and dean at Sciences Po, discusses Europe's need for action amid global instability. She emphasizes leveraging energy market integration and strengthening the internal market to enhance resilience against coercion. Her insights also cover the implications of US foreign policy on NATO deterrence and the urgent need for a unified European defense strategy. Aitor Hernández-Morales then profiles EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, focusing on his affordable housing initiative and strategies to reduce reliance on Russian gas.