Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

A Grain of Power : The governance - Bruxelles 5/6

After analysing the impact of the lack of grain and wheat on the global South, in the 5th episode of A Grain of Power, we look at the impact an abundance of the same can have on economies. In 2024, farmers’ movements across Europe took the streets of their capitals and Brussels. To some, it looked like the Kremlin had been able to spur these protests through its geopolitics of grain. What was that really the case? And, more globally, what role does the EU play in wheat trade? 

Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

Narration: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Reporting and field research: Futura D’Aprile

Author: Futura D'Aprile

English language adaptation: Futura D’Aprile and Alexander Damiano Ricci

Original soundtrack: Epidemic Sound

Original Sound Editing: Jeremy Bocquet

Sound editing and mixing English version: Daniel Gutierrez Ortega

Cover artwork: Watermelon Collective

Production: Futura D'Aprile 

Executive producer: Ana Ribera

Editorial and production coordinator: Alexander Damiano Ricci

A Grain of Power is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. 

Civil society to EU: Stop Hungary’s independent media and NGO crackdown

329 civil society organisations across Europe issued a very clear call to Brussels: stop Hungary’s latest attempt to silence pluralism. 

In a public letter addressed to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath, the signatories urge the EU to act immediately against a new Hungarian law that could destroy what little remains of the country’s democratic public space. But is the EU still willing to protect the rule of law at all?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

EU reviews ties with Israel amid Gaza crisis. Is it too late?

The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the UN warning that 14,000 babies could die within 48hours if aid does not reach communities in the Strip, finally, pushed the European Union into a moment of reckoning. But this comes after more than 19 months of Israeli military operations in Gaza and three months of suspended humanitarian aid, prompting several EU member states to call for a formal review of the EU’s political and economic relations with Israel. But can this review lead to policy change?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

What Poland’s Presidential runoff means for women’s rights

Last Sunday, Poles voted in the first round of presidential elections. Leading were Rafał Trzaskowski, mayor of Warsaw and candidate of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Civic Platform, and Karol Nawrocki of the conservative Law and Justice party. A runoff is set for 1 June.

The race highlights Poland’s deep divisions. And this also has something to do with the right to abortion. Despite Tusk’s 2023 promise to restore abortion rights within 100 days, the near-total ban remains. Reform attempts failed due to internal opposition and President Duda’s veto power. Many women, crucial to Civic Platform’s 2023 victory, feel betrayed. A Trzaskowski win could revive reform hopes; a Nawrocki win would likely block them. Feminist groups now wait to see if promises turn into action.

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

The fossil fuel PR machine Europe doesn’t want to talk about

They say money talks. But sometimes, it whispers, behind closed doors, in Brussels boardrooms, and inside sleek offices of public affairs firms you’ve probably never heard of. While the world tries to phase out fossil fuels, a handful of lobbying and law firms are working hard to protect them. Not because it’s good for the planet, but because big oil still pays. 

A new analysis by the Good Lobby reveals just how deep the ties run between powerful lobbying firms and the fossil fuel giants they quietly serve. And for this episode we’re switching things up and we’re talking with professor Alberto Alemanno, to explain why this link remains strong. What does this say about who really influences EU climate policy? And what will it take to hold them accountable?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

UK and EU hit reset: what did the summit deliver?

Today all eyes are on a very complicated relationship that ended with a breakup, the EU and the UK. Keir Starmer wants to reset this relationship and this week, that effort finally takes shape in the form of hosting the first official U.K.-EU summit since Brexit. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas are having talks with the British Prime Minister in London. What was discussed during the meetings and what would be the impact on citizens? 

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

A Grain of Power : The void - Cairo, Egypt 4/6

With the fourth episode of A Grain of Power, the reportage trip which started in Ukraine and passed along the Western coast of the Black Sea reaches its final destination. In the Egyptian town of Mansoura and the capital city Cairo, bread maker Zainab and restaurant owner Kamal share their views on the importance of bread in their society. The episode analyses the impact of the shortage of wheat due to the war in Ukraine on the Egyptian economy. But by moving back to Europe, the episode also tackles the effect that an abundance of imported grain can have on economies.

Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

Narration: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Reporting and field research: Futura D’Aprile and Matteo Garavoglia

Author: Futura D'Aprile

English adaptation: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Original soundtrack: Epidemic Sound

Original Sound Editing: Jeremy Bocquet

Sound editing and mixing English version: Daniel Gutierrez Ortega

Cover artwork : Watermelon Collective

Production: Futura D'Aprile

Executive producer: Ana Ribera

Production and editorial coordinator: Alexander Damiano Ricci

A Grain of Power is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. 

Europe’s Super Sunday: What’s at stake in three key elections?

May 19th is Europe’s Super Sunday with three elections: Romania, Poland and Portugal, that could reshape each country’s national trajectory and reverberate across the continent. 

Romania’s presidential runoff has exposed deep political divides, with nationalist candidate George Simion facing centrist Nicușor Dan. In Poland, the first round of the presidential race is testing the balance of power between the pro-European government and a conservative opposition, amid growing far-right influence. Meanwhile in Portugal, voters returned to the polls for the third time in three years, with the centre-right seeking to maintain power while resisting pressure from the surging far-right Chega party.

But the main question for this weekend is: is the center holding, or is the right wing moving in for the win?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Orbán’s government to blacklist critical media and NGOs with new bill

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, never one to shy away from a bit of authoritarian flair, is back at it. His ruling Fidesz party has just introduced a bill that will be blacklisting and monitoring critical to his government media and NGO’s. But in what ways is the government planning to use this bill?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Pfizergate: EU court slams Von der Leyen over secret vaccine texts

A European Union court has just ruled that the European Commission was wrong, actually, very wrong,  to deny access to text messages exchanged between its President, Ursula von der Leyen, and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. These messages were sent in early 2021, at a time when the EU had fallen months behind the US and the UK in the race to secure Covid-19 vaccines. 

Von der Leyen took matters into her own hands, personally negotiating a deal worth up to €35 billion for nearly 2 billion doses, in a process that was anything but transparent. So, what does this verdict really mean, and what is the Commission planning to do about it?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Putin on a tightrope as Zelenskyy waits in Istanbul for ‘serious negotiations’

Busy week this one for the world of diplomacy where moves and decisions made could determine the war in Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly accepted Vladimir Putin’s suggestion to have serious negotiations and challenged him to meet for direct peace talks this Thursday, in Istanbul. In this explosive mix add Donald Trump, who is visiting the region and wants to be part of these negotiations. But is there hope for a deal and what happens if Putin doesn’t show up?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Albania’s Rama to secure a 4th term, will he deliver on EU membership?

Albanians  voted this Sunday to decide whether to give Prime Minister Edi Rama a fourth term or side with his longstanding rival, Sali Berisha. From the current polls it looks like Prime Minister Edi Rama has secured a fourth term in office. His Socialist Party won a bit over 50% of the vote in Sunday’s legislative elections, enough to hold a solid majority in parliament, with 79 out of 140 seats. His main rival, conservative leader Sali Berisha, and his coalition received 38% of the vote.

But why was this election one of the most crucial ones for the country and what does the result mean for Albania's EU integration ambitions?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

A Grain of Power : The ports - The Black Sea 3/6

In the third episode of A Grain of Power, the team of reporters behind this documentary travels from Odessa, in Ukraine, towards Istanbul, in Turkey, passing through Constanza, in Romania. The trip sheds light on the impact of the war on Ukraine on the transport infrastructure of grain from Europe to the global South. 

Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

Narration: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Reporting and field research: Futura D'Aprile

Author: Futura D'Aprile

English adaptation: Futura D’Aprile and Alexander Damiano Ricci

Editor-in-chief: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Original soundtrack: Epidemic Sound

Original sound editing and mixing: Jeremy Boquet

Sound editing and mixing of the English version: Daniel Gutierrez Ortega

Cover artwork: Watermelon Collective

Production: Futura D'Aprile

Executive producer: Ana Ribera

Editorial and Production coordinator: Alexander Damiano Ricci

A Grain of Power s a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. 

What is Pope Leo’s stance on LGBTQ+, women’s roles, and migration?

Habemus Papam! After just two days of deliberations, the Cardinals have chosen their 267th Pontiff: Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo the Fourteenth, the first American Pope in history. Seen as a centrist, Leo inherits a global congregation at a time of deep division and growing calls for reform.

But, where does Pope Leo stand on key issues shaping our society today, from LGBTQ+ inclusion and women’s roles in Church leadership, to climate change and migration?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Trump teases UK trade deal amid tariffs. Is it just talk?

Today’s headline in all caps A “MAJOR TRADE DEAL” is on the horizon, or so says Donald Trump, who posted on social media that he’ll be announcing one at 10 AM sharp, 4pm for us,  from the Oval Office. The deal will be with “A BIG, AND HIGHLY RESPECTED, COUNTRY.” So, which country is getting the Trump treatment this time? And what is this deal actually about?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Inside the Conclave: The lobbying, the votes, and the favourites

The 76th papal conclave is officially underway, and this one is already being called the most unpredictable in modern Church history. 133 cardinals from across the world have entered the Sistine Chapel, under Michelangelo’s famous Last Judgment and they’re now sequestered from the outside world to elect the next pope.

This is the largest conclave ever. And like every time since 1276, the voting will continue until one cardinal receives a two-thirds majority. So, what’s going to happen today in a nutshell?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

State crisis? Merz fails to win Chancellor vote

Germany has entered unfamiliar territory. For the first time in the history of the Federal Republic, a designated chancellor has failed to get elected in the first round of parliamentary voting. So, what happens now that Merz failed to secure a majority?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Israel will intensify the war in Gaza ahead of Trump’s Gulf tour

This Monday, Israeli ministers agreed to ramp up their military campaign in Gaza as if they had ever slowed down. Now their new plan is to capture more territory, of whatever is left, draft tens of thousands of reservists of their military and continue striking what they call “militant infrastructure”. All this while Donald Trump is getting ready to visit the region. But will this visit shape the future of the war in Gaza? 

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

A Grain of Power : The fields - Mykolaiv, Ukraine 2/6

The second episode of A Grain of Power brings you to Ukraine. More specifically, we get to know the story of farmers in the Southwestern region of Mykolaiv, where families have suffered the destruction of their fields of wheat through bombs and mines. We also discuss the history of the weaponisation of grain through the voice of historian and professor Steven Kaplan.

Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

Narration: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Reporting and field research: Futura D'Aprile and Diana Lanovets

Author: Futura D'Aprile

English adaptation: Futura D’Aprile

Editor-in-chief: Alexander Damiano Ricci

Original soundtrack: Epidemic Sound

Original Sound Editing: Jeremy Bocquet

Sound editing and mixing English version: Daniel Gutierrez Ortega

Thumbnail illustration: Watermelon Collective

Production: Futura D'Aprile and Diana Lanovets

Executive producer: Ana Ribera

Production coordinator: Alexander Damiano Ricci

A Grain of Power is a six-episode documentary series produced by Europod and Outriders, as part of the WePod project, funded by the European Union. 

Everything you need to know about the elections in Romania

In this episode of Long Story Short, we turn our attention to Romania, where Sunday’s presidential election could redefine the country’s role in Europe and shift the balance of power in the region. With a far-right frontrunner promising to cut off military aid to Ukraine and challenge Romania’s pro-Western trajectory, the stakes are high, not just for Romanians, but for the entire European project. We unpack who’s running, what’s at risk, and how this vote could echo far beyond Bucharest.

Could Romania become the EU’s next political headache?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

The EU’s top court rules Maltese ‘golden passport’ scheme illegal

This week, the EU’s top court delivered a landmark ruling: Malta’s golden passport programme, which allowed wealthy foreigners to acquire Maltese, and therefore EU, citizenship in exchange for a cash investment, has been found illegal.

According to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the scheme amounted to “the commercialisation of EU citizenship.” has violated the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. But what happens now to the passports Malta has already sold and which other countries are under pressure too?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

How religious power is still shaping abortion laws in some European countries

Abortion remains illegal in Malta and highly restricted in Poland, despite ongoing pressure from European institutions to uphold reproductive rights. In this episode of Europe Talks Back, we examine the historical and current influence of religious institutions on abortion policy across Europe, and the political forces maintaining these restrictions. 

We are joined by Neil Datta, Executive Director and founder of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, and Magdalena Chrzczonowicz, Editor-in-Chief of OKO.press and contributor to the cross-border investigation Exporting Abortion, who share insights on how restrictive laws impact women and how cross-border initiatives are working to protect access to safe abortion care.

Why does the EU turn a blind eye to Tunisia’s drift towards autocracy?

Today, our Long Story Short podcast is taking you outside of Europe, to the Mediterranean, to Tunisia. This may not be a strictly European story, but what happens in our neighborhood can have major implications for us too. Especially considering that just last year, Tunisia signed a 255-million-euro deal with the European Union to tackle irregular migration.

The birthplace of the Arab Spring, is once again caught in a judicial farce, because last week, a Tunisian court sentenced 40 people up to 66 years of prison. But who are these people, and why is the EU turning a blind eye in its transactional relationship with Tunisia?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

What does the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting at the Pope’s funeral mean for Ukraine?

Over the weekend, world leaders gathered in Rome to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, an event that quickly became a hotspot for high-stakes diplomacy. At the heart of these diplomatic moves was the very first face-to-face meeting of Donald Trump and Voldomyr Zelenskyy since February’s highly tense Oval Office encounter.

In what way did this meeting shape the future of the war in Ukraine, and what should we be keeping an eye on this week?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

A Grain of Power: The bakery - Trevignano, Italy 1/6

The first episode of A Grain of Power starts in Trevignano, near Rome, Italy. It starts with the story of Culetti, a small modern bakery led by Mirko Magnano, who discusses the philosophy behind the business. More than 2000 kilometres away, Zainab describes the visceral relationship between Egyptian people and bread, as well as the challenges the local population encounters to access this essential good. How and why are the stories of Mirko and Zainab connected?

Through 6 episodes, A Grain of Power is a documentary podcast that takes you on a journey from the heart of Ukraine to the markets of Egypt, passing through Romania, Italy, and Brussels. It explores how an essential commodity – seeds, wheat, bread – has become a weapon of power, playing a crucial role both in the North and the South. Discover how these resources nourish nations, provoke conflicts, and reshape alliances

And you? Would you be willing to fight for a piece of bread?

The EU investigates the legality of facial recognition at Hungary’s Pride

The European Union is currently investigating whether Hungary’s new plan to use facial recognition at LGBTQ+ Pride events on June 28th is even legal. 

But what does Hungary’s surveillance move reveal about the strength of the EU’s AI Act? And will the European Commission take action this time around?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

US eyes easing Russia sanctions, Trump blames Zelenskyy over peace deal

US president Donald Trump, took to social media, again, to blame Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for blocking a peace deal with Russia. Only Russia has been launching a massive missile attack on Kiev since last night with Ukrainians looking for shelter anywhere underground. But is there a peace deal on the horizon and what does lifting sanctions on Russia mean for Europe and the US?

Join us on our journey through the events that shape the European continent and the European Union.

Sea of Rage: A European Story 6/6

In the last episode of Sea of Rage, we travel back to Barbate and investigate what happened on the night of the 9th of February 2024, when two local police officers were killed by narco-gangs. We also meet Spanish prosecutors and researchers, trying to understand what the future might hold for Barbate.

Sea of Rage is a reportage podcast dealing with the borderless narco-trafficking business as seen from the perspective of ordinary people who live in two towns in Southern Europe: Barbate (Andalusìa, Spain) and Gioia Tauro (Calabria, Italy). Over the past few decades, Barbate and Gioia Tauro have become entry points for hashish and cocaine into Europe. But why have these towns become such pivotal places for drug trafficking? And what does it mean to live, day in day out, next door to such dark and murky businesses?

Sea of Rage: Red Threads 5/6

In this episode, we continue our reporting from the area of Gioia Tauro. We meet journalist Michele Albanese who lives under police protection these days. And discover the reach and connections of the Italian Ndrangheta mafia across Europe. From the reporting the differences and red threads connecting Barbate and Gioia Tauro become manifest.

Sea of Rage is a reportage podcast dealing with the borderless narco-trafficking business as seen from the perspective of ordinary people who live in two towns in Southern Europe: Barbate (Andalusìa, Spain) and Gioia Tauro (Calabria, Italy). Over the past few decades, Barbate and Gioia Tauro have become entry points for hashish and cocaine into Europe. But why have these towns become such pivotal places for drug trafficking? And what does it mean to live, day in day out, next door to such dark and murky businesses?

Sea of Rage: The Port of Gioia Tauro 4/6

In this episode, we travel to the Italian coast and port-town of Gioia Tauro, in the Southern region of Calabria. We discover the history of the construction of the port of Gioia Tauro and the role of the Italian mafia, Ndrangheta, in the narco-trafficking of cocaine into Europe. 

Sea of Rage is a reportage podcast dealing with the borderless narco-trafficking business as seen from the perspective of ordinary people who live in two towns in Southern Europe: Barbate (Andalusìa, Spain) and Gioia Tauro (Calabria, Italy). Over the past few decades, Barbate and Gioia Tauro have become entry points for hashish and cocaine into Europe. But why have these towns become such pivotal places for drug trafficking? And what does it mean to live, day in day out, next door to such dark and murky businesses?