Latvia Weekly

Listen to Joe and Otto discuss the current run-up to the election of European Parliament in Latvia, as well as the usual look at national politics, sports, history and ideas for what to see in Latvia the next week. Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music prom...

Otto and Joe are back together at Rīga Central Station to discuss the latest drama at Latvia's public television and on Rīga city council, as well as a "vote of no confidence" against Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, some ambitious plans by Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Juris Pūce, smuggled daggers, and much more!

Otto is joined once again by Olevs Nikers to discuss outgoing politicians, ongoing reforms, incoming bans on tobacco and totalitarian uniforms, a surprise Olevs encountered during his first run in Jūrmala, and what exotic events to enjoy the next week in Latvia! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/l...

Otto is back from a hectic business trip to the US just in time to discuss major stories from last week with Joe, including the closing of casinos in Rīga, the fate of Mayor Nils Ušakovs, the fall from grace of one of the region’s biggest banks, more delays for new electric trains, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribu...

Otto is joined by the director of Baltic Strategy Project Mr. Olevs Nikers to discuss best advice to open the running season in Latvia, new ideas of tackling food waste, fights against mismanagement and gambling in the capital city, the most important elections in the last 30 years, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attrib...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Join Otto and Joe as they celebrate Ireland's big day while discussing the week's biggest stories in Latvia and abroad, including an English exam cheating scandal, more intrigue at Rīgas Satiksme, 16-year-olds being allowed to hunt, TTT Rīga's success at the womens' basketball championship, and much more! St. Patrick's opening theme: "Morrisson's jig - Leslie's march by Ai...

Otto and Joe are back at Rīga Central Station to discuss International Women's Day as well as major developments throughout the country in terms of the state's budget, ongoing corruption cases, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music promoted b...

Mayor Nils Ušakovs and Vice Mayor Andris Ameriks may be trying to escape Rīga for seats in European Parliament, but Joe and Otto are staying right here in Jelgava to break down the events of the week for you. Segments include domestic and international news, this week in Latvian history, "Deal or No Deal," weather, sports, and the week in the future! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by A...

Otto and Joe are back at Rīgas Centrālā stacija (Riga Central Station) to discuss the week’s major happenings such as Rīga City Council’s controversial €3.8 million plan to renovate Uzvaras parks, a potential teacher’s strike, plans to combine Latvia’s municipalities, abandoned health reforms, hidden tobacco, and much more! Segments include “Deal or No Deal,” “This Week in Latvian History,” sports...

Otto and Joe are live from Rīga Central Station for a train-themed episode, with major stories about new electric trains and the Rail Baltica project along with some developments in the European parliamentary and Latvian presidential races, clarifications about the status of British citizens in Latvia post-Brexit, major musical achievements, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tan...

Although the ice sculptures might have melted at the international festival in Jelgava this weekend, support for Rīga's Mayor Nils Ušakovs among his voter base certainly hasn't, with thousands appearing at a rally in Rīga on Saturday to show their support for the embattled leader. Otto and Joe discuss the implications of the rally along with other key stories that include the increasingly messy di...

The coalition talks may be over (for now), but the Latvian political drama has far from finished with Mayor of Rīga Nils Ušakovs' home and office being searched, JKP deputy Juris Jurašs losing his parliamentary immunity despite harsh words from party boss Jānis Bordāns, and the blocking of a major Russian state-sponsored TV channel. Aside from other major domestic and international stories, segmen...

Join Otto as he interviews current Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs as well as former Minister of Culture and current National Library of Latvia Support Foundation director Karina Pētersone about the road to international recognition of Latvian independence as well as the new government's foreign policy goals, the status of British citizens after Brexit, and recommended reading for exp...

By gosh, they did it, they finally did it! Otto and Joe mark the end of the nearly 4-month formation process for the new government by dicussing the new cabinet and some of their upcoming challenges, with other domestic stories including even more drama in KPV LV, updates on the Rīgas Satiksme scandal, and some shake-ups in Latvian media. Other segments include international stories, "Deal or No D...

Otto and Joe discuss major stories both here in Latvia and elsewhere, including more drama in the KPV LV party, an attempt to nationalize Latvia's ports, the government's attempts to predict and prepare for the outcome of Brexit, and more snow! Segments include the "Otto-correct" fact check, "Deal or No Deal," and "This Week in Latvian History." Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audion...

Despite a relatively slow news week, Otto and Joe still have plenty to discuss with major developments in the coalition talks as well as some potentially influential international stories worth keeping an eye on. They also reflect on the art of repectful Facebook discussions and introduce a new "Deal or No Deal" and "this coming week" segments to close things up. (Note: There was a problem with on...

Otto and Joe are back from a New Year break with a giant-sized Latvia Weekly episode looking back on not only what happened over the previous week, but the biggest stories of the previous year as well. We've got updates on the coalition talks, the top 10 stories of 2018, and the 2018 Latvia Weekly "person of the year" choices from both listeners and from the blog/podcast staff. Settle in for one l...

Join Otto and Joe in snowy Jelgava as they discuss major developments in the Rīga satiksme bribery case, more roadblocks in the coalition talks, and the publication of the KGB archives along with "This Week in Latvian History," major international stories, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecomm...

Merry Christmas from Latvia Weekly! Join regular host Joe Horgan and special guest hosts Mārtiņš Enģelis, editor of the "Capital R" blog and Nikita Andreev, lecturer at the University of Latvia Faculty of Theology, as they discuss the peculiarities of Christmas in Latvia and how traditions differ among the country's subcultures and from Christmas elsewhere in the world. Topics include grey peas, t...

Otto Tabuns is back from his trip to America to help co-host Joe Horgan unravel an international web of bribery and corruption involving Rīga's public transit authority and firms in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Aside from our regular "This Week in Latvian History" and "Otto-correct" segments, other topics include a possible breakthrough in the government building talks, major happenings throug...

Despite some technical difficulties and a few delays, Otto joins Joe from New York City as the two discuss major developments in the chaotic coalition building process as well as the week's top international and domestic stories that affected Latvia. Live from New York, it's Latvia Weekly! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution li...

Join Otto and Joe for a very international edition of Latvia Weekly, as Otto calls in from Washington DC to discuss Aldis Gobzems' roller coaster week, major developments between Russia and Ukraine, a very somber event in Latvian history, our "Otto-correct" fact checking segment, and much more! Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attributi...

Happy Thanksgiving all the way from here in Latvia! Join Otto and Joe as they discuss news stories that we can be thankful for as well as the ongoing political stalemate, Otto-correct, and this week in Latvian history. Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Artist: audionautix.com/ Music...

A very happy 100th birthday to the Republic of Latvia! Otto and Joe discuss the country's centenary as well as the ongoing search for the next prime minister, issues with taxis at Rīga's airport, darkness in Daugavpils, Otto's trip to America, and much more. Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommons.org/licen...

Otto and Joe discuss the 11th of November and what it means in Latvia, as well as major political developments here and abroad, upgrades to the train infrastructure, the Livonian language and more! We have also added a "this week in history" segment in addition to our fact-checking "Otto-correct" portion. Opening and closing theme song: Think Tank by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Common...