The Europeans | European news, politics and culture

Last week, tech giant Meta reached a settlement in a lawsuit with nearly every state in the US over claims that it had knowingly harmed children with its addictive apps. It was a major turn of events in the growing movement to protect kids online – but what does it mean for those of us on this side of the Atlantic? This week, we’re bringing you a fascinating chat with Leanda Barrington-Leach, the executive director at 5Rights, an international NGO that seeks to protect children’s rights and wellbeing on the internet. We’re also unpicking the CIA chief’s visit to Moscow and the surprisingly effective tariff placed on small parcels from China.This week’s Inspiration Station recommendations are the proposed euro banknote designs and the Polish HBO series Proud.You can hear more of our conversation with Leanda over on Patreon.Resources for this episode:“China tightens grip on Europe’s car supply chain” – Financial Times, 11 August 2026“Chinese imports plunge 30% to 40% after EU tax on small parcels” – Euronews, 27 August 2026“CIA chief used Moscow visit to warn Russia against attacks on NATO allies, helping Iran” – Politico, 26 August 2026GIVE A LITTLE, GET A LITTLE (OR A LOT). Did you know that just a small monthly donation to The Europeans makes a big difference to our team? Better yet: did you know that that small monthly donation comes with lots of nice perks? Visit us over at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast and see what your pocket money can do for us – and for you. You can also make a donation via our website.STILL WANT MORE? Subscribe to our newsletter, Good Week Bad Week, and get more European news, culture, and general goofiness in your inbox each Friday. It’s free!Co-hosts: Dominic Kraemer and Wojciech OleksiakSenior producer: Wojciech OleksiakProducers: Morgan Childs and Wojciech OleksiakAudio editing: Monika ProbaMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne and Mariska MartinaThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | [email protected]

Sally Hayden made a name for herself by documenting some of the worst human rights abuses of the 21st century. Now she’s written a new book… of love stories. This week we had the honour of sitting down with the decorated Irish journalist to discuss her latest release, This Is Also a Love Story, the (im)balance of good news and bad, and the oft-forgotten truth that, as Sally puts it, “humans exist at the center of geopolitics”. We’ve devoted the whole of this week’s episode to this challenging conversation, and we hope you’ll find it as thought-provoking as we did.You can learn more about Sally on her website (we highly recommend reading her 2023 speech to the European Parliament). Don’t miss her first book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, and her new release, This Is Also a Love Story.This podcast would not be possible without our extraordinary Patreon family. If conversations like these inspire you, please consider joining them over at ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. Many, many thanks.Co-hosts: Katy Lee and Dominic KraemerProducers: Morgan Childs, Dominic Kraemer, and Wojciech OleksiakAudio editing: Morgan ChildsMixing and mastering: Wojciech OleksiakMusic: Jim Barne, Mariska Martina and Blue Dot SessionsThe Europeans is proudly produced using Europe’s own Hindenburg.YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | [email protected]

Last month, we asked you for your favourite sunny, summery songs from across the European continent – and boy, did you deliver! This week we’re taking a break from the news to talk about some of the incredible music you introduced us to, by artists from Sweden to Serbia. GET IN ON THE FUN: We’re mixing things up over on Patreon and giving members new perks for supporting our work. Visit ⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ to take a look at all the benefits. You can also, as always, make a donation via our website. A huge thank you to our supporters for making independent European journalism possible – we hope you’re as excited about what’s next as we are.Unsung: Cleaners is a documentary podcast bringing together the voices of cleaners across Europe, telling their stories in their own words. From invisible labour and night shifts to dignity and organising for change, the five-part series explores the human stories behind one of the world’s most essential – and most overlooked – jobs: cleaning. In the first episode, Hayat Elhore, a cleaner at the European Parliament in Brussels, shares what it’s like to clean a building that symbolises democracy – while often being treated as invisible. She pulls back the curtain on a typical day in the life of a cleaner.A huge thank you to the artists who made this week’s episode possible (and who’ve put a skip in our step over the past few weeks). Songs mentioned in this episode:“Caramello” by Rocco Hunt, Elettra Lamborghini, Lola IndigoCopyright 2022 Epic, Sony Music Entertainment Italy S.p.A. Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Volio BiH” by Dubioza KolektivCopyright 2012 EMDC Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Bean Udaí Thall” by HuartanCopyright 2024 Sliocht na Sí Records Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Jag kommer” by Veronica Maggio Copyright 2011 Universal Music ABQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Amorgos” by Leonidas BalafasCopyright 2021 Leonidas BalafasSpotify | YouTube“Liūdna!” by Free FingaCopyright 2026 Free Finga and MB ŽiauruSpotify | YouTube“Dansjes Verplicht” by WoezelsCopyright 2019 Woezels Spotify | YouTube“Blond” by JaldaCopyright 2026 Universal Music ABQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Lan Y Môr” by AdwaithCopyright 2020 Libertino RecordsQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Je pense à vous” by Pierre de MaereCopyright 2026 Wagram Music/Cinq7, Wagram PublishingQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Odi Dođi” by DJ Kovi &amp; MC Mikri Maus Copyright 2017 Prti Bee GeeQobuz | Spotify | YouTube “Elukoor/Choir of Life” by Mari KalkunCopyright 2020 Aigu Om RecordsQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Onomkeerbaar” by Eefje de VisserCopyright 2025 Sony Music Entertainment Netherlands B.V.Qobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Nemám zájem” by Něco NěcoCopyright 2025 DivnostiQobuz | Spotify | YouTube“Am Herz Vorbei” by Tristan BruschCopyright 2023 Four Music/Tautorat TonträgerQobuz | Spotify | YouTubeHEAR EVEN MORE SUMMERY EUROPEAN MUSIC: We’ve created playlists with all of our picks and yours. Listen in via your streaming service of choice below.The Europeans’ Summer Playlist ShortlistQobuz | Spotify | Apple | TidalListener Picks: The Europeans’ Summer PlaylistQobuz | <a...

A very special bienvenue to this very special episode of The Europeans! This week, the entire team gathered in person in a swanky studio in Paris to answer some of your burning questions, from “How do you stay sane when you’re immersed in the news?” to “Is there a favourite bird?” (i.e. the simple to the deeply complex). Plus: Wojciech’s dream of being a “failed sportsman”, the unvarnished truth about the team’s vegan/teetotaling façade, and… The Europeans Matchmaking Agency?! We’ll be back with a regular episode next week. In the meantime, subscribe to our cheeky new newsletter! If you like this here, we think you’ll enjoy that there. Resources for this episode: “A 24-year-old Frenchman shows up at hospital with a World War I shell lodged in his rectum” – El País, 2 February 2026 A heartwarming TikTok compilation of running owls This podcast was funded by our listeners. If you like what we do, you can chip in to help us cover our production costs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/europeanspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (in many different currencies), or you can gift a donation to a superfan. We'd also love it if you could tell two friends about this podcast. We think two feels like a reasonable number. Produced by Katy Lee Mixing and mastering by Wojciech Oleksiak Music by Jim Barne and Mariska Martina YouTube | Bluesky | Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Mastodon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | Substack | [email protected]