Author: DW

On the show this week: Poland’s presidential elections reveal a country on a knife-edge, Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia and the Baltics’ hybrid warfare fears. Plus a Hungarian spy ring, Icelandic intrigue, Swiss bunkers, and Syrians returning home from Europe. A security special packed with stories from the frontlines of Europe’s shifting geopolitics.

Romania goes to the polls in the final round of high-stakes presidential elections, Albania's Edi Rama sails to victory once again, and the PKK disbands. Later: Pope Leo XIV, Russian volunteers help Ukrainians in Armenia, Eurovision attempts a reset in politically neutral Switzerland, and an adult toy craze that’s perhaps more “constructive” than most…

Germany’s new chancellor gets off to a bumpy start. Is Google helping Turkey to strangle independent media? And Malta is forced to abandon a lucrative business model. Then a VE Day Special: Nathalie Tocci on Europe, a look at Britain and France’s “coalition of the willing”, and a very personal tour of synagogues in the Netherlands.

Kate's away this week, so we're sharing another podcast we love: The Europeans. They've got a veritable smörgåsbord in this episode, from human rights in Hungary to the sorry tale of two Danish sustainability influencers whose eco-resort business went spectacularly wrong. Plus, how an army of volunteer online sleuths is helping Ukraine use open-source intelligence to fight back against Russia.

A coalition deal is reached in Germany, France sees opportunities in US academic flight, Turkey’s opposition change tack, and Slovakia gets tough on bears. Also on the show: an iconic opera house fights for survival amidst Berlin’s culture cuts, plus a conversation with Patrick Strickland, author of ‘You Can Kill Each Other After I Leave: Refugees, Fascism, and Bloodshed in Greece.’

Hungary announces it will withdraw from the ICC, Berlin moves to deport four foreign national Gaza protesters, and a French court finds Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzlement. Also: Why aren’t European leaders finding tougher words on Turkey? Can Europe really go it alone? Who will save Radio Free Europe? All that, plus the craziest spy story you ever heard!

Focus on Turkey: on-the-ground reporting and an interview with celebrated journalist-in-exile, Can Dündar. Also: French-Algerian relations, the German Green-Card holder caught up in Trump's immigration crackdown, the record-breaking new Olympics boss, the Democratic Odyssey project, and a brand-new town square.

France's answer to Starlink, North Macedonia's deadly nightclub fire and Germany's break with austerity. All that plus the longest tram in the world, protests in Serbia and Hungary and a star-turn from 100 year old actor and activist, Thelma Ruby.