MCC Brussels Podcast

Antifa thugs try to shut down MCC Brussels again—but we held the line. This week, Jacob Reynolds is joined by James Orr and Richard Schenk to discuss the escalating assault on free speech in Brussels, the rise of Reform UK in the polls, Keir Starmer’s sudden U-turn on immigration, and what Trump’s return means for Europe. We also dive into the culture war over Eurovision and ask: is the West final...

In this blistering polemic, MCC Brussels Senior Research Fellow Dr Maren Thom and Research Fellow Richard Schenk dissect a week of political chaos: Germany’s largest opposition party, the AfD, officially branded “extremist” – for views shared by millions. Chancellor Friedrich Merz humiliated in a failed vote,  forced into a fragile coalition with the SPD. The government’s desperate attempt to win...

What happens when Europe’s ruling class can’t defeat their opponents at the ballot box? In this week’s MCC Brussels podcast we begin in Germany, where the intelligence services have officially branded the AFD as "extremist" – just as a new coalition government struggles to form under Friedrich Merz. Is this militant democracy or just democracy in name only? Next, we turn to Romania, wher...

Join John O’Brien, Head of Communications, and Ashley Frawley, Visiting Research Fellow at MCC Brussels, in this eye-opening episode of Deep Dives. Together, they explore the complex and controversial topic of euthanasia through the lens of a groundbreaking report by MCC Brussels. In this thought-provoking discussion, they tackle critical questions: Does legalising euthanasia truly empower individ...

From Trump and Zelensky’s headline-grabbing encounter at the Pope’s funeral to a massive power outage plunging Spain into darkness, this episode dives into the mounting signs of European decline. We explore how culture wars, green dogma, and bureaucratic drift are reshaping Europe — and leaving its citizens in the dark. 🇻🇦 Papal Funeral Diplomacy We open with the surreal spectacle of global power...

Across Europe, families are cutting back on heating, dreading their next energy bill. How did we end up here? In this episode of Deep Dives, John O’Brien speaks with energy expert James Woudhuysen about his latest report: Lights Out: Is the EU Failing on Energy Policy? They unpack how Europe’s obsession with wind and solar has left households vulnerable, while nuclear, gas, and coal are sidelined....

On this week's podcast: From tariffs to party systems, we examine the forces quietly redrawing the political map of Europe and beyond. 📉 Trump’s Tariffs – Chaos or Strategy? The former president imposes—and then partially walks back—massive global tariffs. Markets tumble, pundits panic. But is there a method behind the volatility? Mick Hume argues it’s the end of globalisation as we knew it....

Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for president. Trump hits Europe with new tariffs. EU officials caught using ChatGPT to avoid transparency. We unpack Europe’s democratic and economic crisis. This week on the MCC Brussels podcast, we explore the shocking ban of Marine Le Pen from France’s presidential race, raising serious questions about lawfare and the state of democracy in the EU. We...

US officials used a Signal group chat to plan military strikes—revealing staggering disregard for national security. We also unpack Europe’s defence collapse and explore the continent’s fertility crisis. This week on the MCC Brussels podcast, we explore the jaw-dropping use of a Signal chat by senior Trump-era officials to discuss American war plans, exposing both a lack of professionalism and the...

This week on the MCC Brussels podcast, Jacob Reynolds is joined by MCC Brussels’ Head of Cultural Engagement Agnieszka Kolek and Research Fellow Richard Schenk to unpick a trio of scandals that reveal the state of modern Europe – from fiscal irresponsibility in Berlin to ideological overreach in Brussels, and political persecution in Warsaw. First up: Germany’s supposedly sacred “debt brake” has b...

In this edition of Deep Dives, John O’Brien sits down with Polish journalist Artur Ciechanowicz to discuss his latest report: Donald Tusk’s Anti-Democracy Handbook. They break down how Poland is sliding into a system where laws are enforced selectively, opposition voices are silenced, and media control is tightening—all while the EU looks the other way. A scene from Get Shorty captures it best: Jo...

Brussels claims it's finally getting serious about deportations, but the reality? Another bureaucratic sham designed to appease voters while keeping Europe's borders wide open. Meanwhile, the Digital Services Act is being dressed up as a "neutral" regulation—when in reality, it’s a censorship weapon, silencing dissent under the guise of fighting "disinformation." And...

As Trump signals a shift in America's stance on Ukraine, Europe's leaders are in disarray, desperately trying to craft a unified response. But is this truly about security, or is it an excuse to push deeper EU federalisation? The latest developments suggest that European leaders, long complacent under NATO’s umbrella, are now panicking as the reality of Trump's foreign policy sets i...

The EU is quietly funnelling billions into so-called non-governmental organisations. These “independent” NGOs are anything but. They’re propped up by Brussels, pushing its agenda, shaping public opinion, and drowning out dissenting voices. It’s propaganda—paid for with your money. In this episode of Deep Dives, we sit down with Thomas Fazi, talking about his report exposing the EU’s shadowy NGO ne...

Germany has voted — but the German establishment is in crisis.  The CDU claims victory, but at what cost? The AfD surges despite media attacks. The left collapses, and young voters are shifting against the status quo. 🔹 The Firewall is Cracking – Can the AfD be shut out forever? 🔹 CDU’s Gamble – Is Merz serious about migration, or is it all just talk? 🔹 Economic Freefall – Germany’s industry is...

This week, joining Jacob Reynolds are MCC Brussels' executive director Frank Furedi, and Zsófia Tóth-Bíró from The European Conservative We break down the key issues shaping global politics.we explore how Trump’s vision for a new world order could reshape Europe—and what it means for the U.S. as well. Is Trump fashioning a whole new vision for global geopolitics, or does his cavalier attitude...

The Patriots for Europe, the European Parliament’s third-largest voting bloc, gathered in Madrid under the slogan “Make Europe Great Again”—a bold endorsement of Donald Trump’s return. As Brussels clings to its failing agenda, patriotic forces are rising, demanding a Europe that puts its people first. Meanwhile in Europe the Green Deal seems to be coming apart. Facing backlash, Brussels is floatin...

A massive lobbying scandal reveals how the EU funds NGOs to manipulate policy and control public debate—your tax money, repurposed for propaganda. Meanwhile, Trump's impending tariffs are a wrecking ball aimed at Europe’s fragile economy and crumbling political elite. As Brussels scrambles to maintain its illusion of unity, national interests are starting to tear the EU apart.  Jacob Reynolds...

We welcome MEP Anders Vistisen and MCC Brussels' Richard Schenk to digest a chaotic week in Germany, Trump's threats about Greenland, and the EU's half-hearted conversion to rolling back green policies. Germany’s political status quo just shattered. On Friday, the CDU and CSU (Die Union) brought a migration control bill to the Bundestag—fully aware it would pass with AfD support. On...

Trump’s has returned triumphantly to power, with a vision for a bold new era for America. In contrast, Europe's failing elites huddled together in Davos. But the EU is ready with its response to Trump: a revamped censorship machine.  The first act of the EU has been to revamp the hated Digital Services Act, promising a new "democracy shield" to "protect" EU citizens from v...

Todays's museums have abandoned artifacts to focus on activism. The traditional museum, once the unwavering guardian of cultural treasures, is now unraveling as its purpose shifts—from exhibiting objects to shaping citizens. John O’Brien sits down with Katalin Deme, Senior Research fellow at MCC Brussels, for a deep dive into her report, “A Museums Renaissance: In defense of a traditional rol...

This week, we dive into the potential fallout of a second Trump presidency on transatlantic relations, examining how it could reshape NATO dynamics, trade agreements, and diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Europe. The growing influence of Elon Musk in European politics takes center stage as we explore how his ventures, rhetoric, and reach are shaping policy debates, particularly around energy, t...

Join us for a recap of 2024’s political shockwaves.  From the farmers’ protests to the surge of the nonconformist right in the European Parliament elections, to Trump’s return and the reshaping of Europe’s political order – 2024 was one for the books. Giorgia Meloni emerges as Europe’s rising star, Hungary shakes up the EU and the once-unshakeable cordon sanitaire begins to fray. Plus, our festive...

The disastrous Scholz government has collapsed, leaving Germany reeling in the wake of its failed green utopia and chaotic migration policies. Once the engine of Europe, Germany is now a crucible of political failure and economic decline. In this MCC podcast, we delve into the intricate story of how Scholz’s coalition unravelled, exposing a labyrinth of incompetence, short-sighted energy fantasies...

Two seismic events have rocked European politics. In Romania, the shocking decision to CANCEL the presidential election sent shockwaves across the continent, revealing the anti-Democratic impulses of European elites for all to see. Meanwhile, Michel Barnier's government in France collapsed, throwing not just Emmanuel Macron but the entire fifth republic into crisis.  Behind both of these even...