Latvia Weekly

"Kluss" (quiet) is the word of the week as the government institutes a "quiet three weeks" of the strictest measures Latvia has seen yet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Otto and Joe take a socially distanced walk through Jelgava to discuss the deteriorating situation as well as other stories including more than 400,000 euro raised to fight domestic violence, the passing of a Latvian rock legend, and...

Snow is finally in the air, but so is the COVID-19 virus which continues to spread through the country at an alarming rate. Joe and Otto discuss the latest updates and decisions as well as other stories such as a major fire at a home improvement store, a surprising potential new supporter of expanded LGBT rights, another postponement of controversial changes to health care, and more! Theme song "M...

Otto is back with Joe to discuss public backlash against controversial new restrictions such as limits over what cannot be bought in supermarkets and distance learning from grades 5-6. Other important stories include the passing of the 2021 budget, mandatory national defense classes, and a further disintegration of the KPV LV party. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permis...

As Prime Minister Krišjānis so succinctly put it in a phrase that has gone viral all over the Latvian speaking web, the country's COVID-19 situation is growing increasingly grim. TV24's Kārlis Streips joins Joe to discuss the latest restrictions as well as a few other important stories from the week, such as a call by the teacher's union for Minister of Education Ilga Šuplinska's resignation, a po...

Join Joe as he covers the biggest stories of the week, such as a forthcoming increase to minimum wage, a suspected human trafficking scheme at the Baltics' largest baking company, Latvia's placement on a questionable international English proficiency ranking, and the latest COVID-19 updates. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission

For those of you who were unable to join Otto and Joe on Facebook live for their 18th of November special, you can listen here on their and others' reflections regarding the importance of proclamation day here in Latvia.

After continuing to use his Rīga City Council parking privileges years after no longer serving on local government, Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Juris Pūce has paid what might be the most expensive parking ticket in city history — one that has cost him his job, and a path to the prime ministership. Otto and Joe break down this story and a number of others such as a...

As we all continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Latvia remembers the brave people who fought in the War of Independence 100 years ago by celebrating "Lāčplēša diena" on the 11th of November. Otto and Joe discuss the importance of this day in history and cover the latest updates to the COVID-19 situation and other news stories throughout Latvia. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, u...

Olevs (Baltic Security Foundation), Kārlis (Rīga TV24), and Kristaps (Eastern Border Podcast) join Otto and Joe to discuss the news of the week and to celebrate Latvia Weekly's 100th episode! Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission

As Latvia switches its clocks and hour back for the fall, the amount of new COVID-19 cases in Latvia continues to skyrocket. Joe explains all of the newest restrictions and reflects on life in Latvia during the pandemic, while also covering stories such as new environmentally friendly busses for Valmiera, the introduction of young pike to Juglas ezers, and a moose on the loose in the middle of Rig...

Kārlis Streips joins Joe to discuss the worrying rise in COVID cases and new restrictions such as masks in public places and a return to distance learning for grades 7-12. They also discuss other stories from the week such as the new budget for 2021, a new president of the constitutional court, a Latvian-created robot that can do your weeding for you, and an international chess scandal in the tiny...

Otto and Olevs discuss important domestic and international news stories of the week, such as the re-introduction of COVID-related restrictions in Latvia and the first days of work of the new mayor of Rīga. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission

Join Otto and Olevs as they discuss French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Latvia along with a number of other important stories from the week, including a worrying rise in the amount of new COVID-19 cases and the implications. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission

The fallout of the Rīga City Council election continues to settle, with former prime minister candidate Vjačeslavs Dombrovskis and fellow Saeima deputy Ļubova Švecova being kicked out of the struggling Saskaņa party in a crackdown on critical voices. Otto and Olevs discuss the implications of this move along with other important news items, such as yet another tragic murder of a lawyer, the future...

Otto and Olevs discuss the latest drama in the Rīga City Council as well as some interesting stories regarding passenger rail, constitutional issues, and much more!

With school beginning again in person despite some uncertainty due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Joe invites three of his students and one of his colleagues to discuss how they feel about the new study year and a number of other important stories from throughout the last two weeks. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permission.

Join Otto as he takes a special look at the results of the Rīga City Council extraordinary election, discussing the events of the last few days, breaking down how each party did, and predicting the future coalition which is expected to elect Mārtiņš Staķis as the new mayor of Rīga.

Join Otto and Joe as they take a look through the week's most important stories such as the ongoing violence in Belarus, the opening of a self-driving bus route in Jelgava, a return of vehicular traffic to Tērbatas iela, an apparent pay raise for lecturers this September, and more!

Although Latvia's COVID situation resembles more of the tiny waves seen in a lake on a breezy day than the large "second wave" people have long feared, not everyone agrees about the best way to move forward with the school year imminent. Kārlis and Patrīcija join Joe to discuss the latest situation as well as a number of other news stories from throughout the week including self-driving buses in J...

Kārlis Streips joins Otto and Joe on a rainy afternoon for a jumbo-sized episode where they discuss a number of different topics including brand new polling data in the Rīga City Council elections, a presidential proposal to move public media away from ad revenue, a new way to find fresh food, plans for a new major wind farm, updates to the COVID situation, and much more! Theme song "Mēs esam ārze...

Otto and Joe return for part two of their series breaking down the Rīga City Council elections, this time looking at the parties not currently in city council who are attempting to get elected into it. Parties covered in this episode include: Politiskā partija "Alternative" Politiskā partija "KPV LV" Jaunā Saskaņa Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība "Latvijas Krievu savienība" Partija "Vienoti Latvijai" Na...

In the first installment of their guide to the 2020 Rīga City Council Elections, Otto and Joe take a look at the programs of the six parties who are already in the council, as well as explain a bit about their backgrounds. Parties covered: "Saskaņa" sociāldemokrātiskā partija Partija "Gods kalpot Rīgai" Jaunā konservatīvā partija Nacionālā apvienība "Visu Latvijai!"-"Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK", La...

Kārlis Streips joins Joe on a sweltering summer afternoon to discuss major happenings throughout Latvia such as the ministry's hot-off-the-press plans "A, B, and C" to return Latvia to school, the blockbuster new EU budget, another planned teachers' strike, renovations for train stations, and, of course, the latest COVID situation. Theme song "Mēs esam ārzemnieki" by Aarzemnieki, used with permiss...

Daudz laimes dzimšanas dienā! In honor of Kārlis Streips' birthday, we are uploading an interview Joe did with our esteemed co-host about the many hats he has worn in Latvian media, his experience moving to Latvia from America and then living in Rīga throughout the entire post-occupation period, and his work as a literature translator.

The Summer of COVID in Latvia continues without any major spikes in cases so far, but the pandemic situation remains just as unpredictable as the upcoming Rīga City Council election, or the weather for that matter. Join Otto and Joe as they manage to talk through the latest developments while looking after Joe's newborn daughter, and find out why Koknese might be the best Latvian town worth visiti...