Briefed - Your Daily European Podcast

Sea of Rage: The Rage 3/6

After visiting the neighbourhood of El Pinar and the port of Barbate, in this episode we try to understand deeper reasons for why this south-western Spanish port town struggles in changing its status of entry door for hashish into Europe. We discuss the impact of geography, education and, eventually, local politics on 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: The Port of Barbate 2/6

Walking the streets of Barbate is not enough to grasp why drug trafficking affects this small town in South-Western Spain. In this episode, the team of reporters behind Sea of Rage visit the port of Barbate, where everything - the smuggling - happens. 

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: El Pinar 1/6

In this episode, the team of reporters behind Sea of Rage set foot for the first time in Barbate, Andalusia, South-Western Spain. They meet people from El Pinar, a notorious neighbourhood in town which is known to be a pivotal place for drug trafficking. 

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 [Trailer]

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?

How İmamoğlu’s arrest is crashing the Turkish economy

From behind the walls of Silivri Prison, Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent a clear message: “If there is even a shred of conscience left, stop this harassment of my family.”

İmamoğlu has been imprisoned since March 19, on corruption and terrorism charges widely seen as politically motivated. He was expected to be officially nominated as the opposition presidential candidate. But his arrest, besides the political fall out for Turkey also has severe financial implications forcing the Turkish central bank to act, find out why?

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

Long Story Short with David Carretta: Italy’s Meloni negotiating with Trump

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is in Washington to meet with Donald Trump, a visit that puts her in a delicate position, as she tries to balance the interests of the European Union while staying in the good graces of the  U.S. president.

To dig a bit deeper into what this visit means for Europe, but mostly for Italy and Giorgia Meloni’s political strategy, I’m joined by David Carretta, journalist for Radio Radicale, Il Foglio, and the newsletter Il Mattinale Europeo.

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

Russia jails 4 journalists for ‘extremism’ tied to Navalny

On Tuesday, a Russian court convicted four journalists of “extremism”, specifically, for allegedly collaborating with Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, which the Kremlin labeled “extremist” and outlawed back in 2021. 

But what does this case reveal about the state of press freedom and political repression in Russia? And can an appeal offer any hope for justice in this case?

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

Sumy missile attack: A 'mistake' to Trump, a 'war crime' to Europe

On Monday, Russia claimed that its deadly missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, which killed and injured dozens, including children, was aimed at a gathering of Ukrainian troops. Meanwhile, European leaders condemned the attack and are calling it what it is: a war crime. But are European leaders planning to respond?

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

Hungary’s constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ gatherings

Today, Monday, Hungarian lawmakers are expected to vote on a controversial constitutional amendment that would ban LGBTQ+ events, including Pride marches, under the pretext of protecting children. The amendment, backed by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party, would also enshrine the recognition of only two sexes in Hungary’s constitution and allow for the suspension of citizenship for dual nationals deemed a threat to national security. 

Rights groups say the changes mark a serious escalation in Orbán’s crackdown on dissent and civil liberties, drawing parallels with Russia’s approach to LGBTQ+ rights and sparking protests across the country. EU officials and international embassies have voiced concern over the move, calling it a violation of fundamental rights.

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Discover "Do you really know?" by Bababam

What is ecological debt? Why am I experiencing déjà vu? How do you get better results with ChatGPT?...

Do you love learning new things? Do You Really Know is a Bababam Originals podcast which brings you answers to all your questions in under 3 minutes,... even the questions you didn’t know you had!

You can tune in and listen to new episodes every day to feed your curiosity, on topics relating to health, culture, society, science and much more.

Merz’s coalition government ends 3-year citizenship path

Germany’s new coalition government, made up of the conservative CDU/CSU alliance and the center-left Social Democrats, is planning to hit the brakes on a reform introduced in 2023: the 3-year fast track to citizenship for well-integrated immigrants. 

But what does all this actually mean for the people who’ve been waiting years to become citizens, or those who finally got their German passport last year?

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

Europe and NATO talk Ukraine peacekeeping, without peace

As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Europe’s defence ministers have gathered in Brussels to discuss the possible deployment of international peacekeeping troops, despite there being no actual peace agreement in sight. 

In this episode of Long Story Short, we unpacks the latest meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing”, led by France and the UK, as they try to sketch out future security guarantees for Ukraine, heavily reliant, of course, on a hesitant United States that once again didn’t bother to show up. With Russia reportedly launching a new offensive and Ukraine still barred from joining NATO, we explore what these vague commitments actually mean, what Kyiv is asking for, and whether Europe is ready to take the lead or simply hoping someone else will.

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

The EU’s Frontex investigates Greece over migrant rights violations

The European Union’s border protection agency, Frontex, announced this week that it's investigating a dozen serious allegations of human rights violations by Greece when it comes to handling irregular immigration. 

The latest addition to the long list of violations is the investigation carried by Solomon, Swiss investigative outlet Republik, and the Swiss research collective WAV, into the living conditions of unaccompanied children in refugee camps on Greece’s islands.

But how can the EU claim to uphold human rights while funding border policies that lead to deaths at sea and inhumane refugee camps?

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

The EU is ready to hit US exports with 25% retaliatory tariffs

The European Union is gearing up to respond to the United States in a long-standing trade dispute over steel and aluminium. With a 25% retaliatory tariff on a wide range of American goods back on the table, tensions between the two transatlantic partners are rising once again. 

But what is behind the EU’s move, why some member states are urging caution, and what this all means for businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic?

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

Why Spain's housing crisis is a European one

This weekend, the streets of Spain turned to an orange and green “no” due to mass protests over housing. Tens of thousands of people across 40 cities took to the streets demanding what should be pretty basic in 2025, affordable housing. 

But what action is the government taking to solve the housing crisis and why is this more than just a Spanish problem?

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

Discover "Do you really know?" by Bababam

What is ecological debt? Why am I experiencing déjà vu? How do you get better results with ChatGPT?...

Do you love learning new things? Do You Really Know is a Bababam Originals podcast which brings you answers to all your questions in under 3 minutes,... even the questions you didn’t know you had!

You can tune in and listen to new episodes every day to feed your curiosity, on topics relating to health, culture, society, science and much more.

Trump and JD Vance back Le Pen: ‘This isn’t democracy’

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right National Rally, is now, we could say, a convicted criminal. And her allies across the Atlantic, US Vice President JD Vance and president Donald Trump are not holding back, talking about witch hunts and a minor offense. 

But why are they supporting Le Pen and what is the reaction from France’s far right? 

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

Trump slams EU with 20% tariff, retaliation plans set in motion

Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” just delivered a pretty nasty blow to the global trading system. The United States has decided to impose a 10 percent minimum tariff on all imports coming into the country. The EU, and other top trading partners like China, Japan, and Vietnam, got hit with even higher rates. 

What kind of economic fallout can we expect from these tariffs? And what is Europe going to do about it?

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

Orbán welcomes Netanyahu, defying ICC arrest warrant

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Budapest tonight in his very first trip to a European country since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against him and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes committed in Gaza. But Netanyahu will not be detained in Viktor Orban’s Hungary and the ICC not only will be defied but it also has limited means to respond to this trip. 

But what is Hungary’s plan to defy the arrest warrant and why is Netanyahu meeting up with Orban?

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

EPP’s NGO transparency funding review fails by a single vote

On Monday evening, the European People’s Party EPP tried and failed to push for a review of how the European Commission funds certain climate NGOs. The text voted by the MEP’s in Strasbourg argues that the Commission is basically paying NGOs to lobby for the Green Deal. Or,simply put, hiring cheerleaders for its own policies.

But what is the underlying reason the EPP has declared war on NGOs and did the Commission water down the agreement over NGO lobbying transparency?

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Le Pen found guilty: A big bang moment for French politics?

The latest news says that Marine Le Pen and eight other MEPs have been found guilty of embezzling EU funds by a Paris court. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist,  it’s a political earthquake. 

The presiding judge, Bénédicte de Perthuis, warned from the start that the judgment would be lengthy, packed with explanations for the decision taken. And yet, here’s the first headline: guilty as charged. 

What happens if Le Pen is banned from running and why is this a moment of big bang for French politics?

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

Discover "Do you really know?" by Bababam

What is ecological debt? Why am I experiencing déjà vu? How do you get better results with ChatGPT?...

Do you love learning new things? Do You Really Know is a Bababam Originals podcast which brings you answers to all your questions in under 3 minutes,... even the questions you didn’t know you had!

You can tune in and listen to new episodes every day to feed your curiosity, on topics relating to health, culture, society, science and much more.

The tariff war is on: what it means for Europe and how it will react

Donald Trump has warned that if the EU and Canada team up against the US, we’ll see huge tariffs, much larger than anything we’ve seen so far. This is coming after Trump announced plans to slap a 25% tariff on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of imported cars and auto parts from countries like Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Japan, and, of course, Germany. 

But what does this move mean for the European car industry, and will the EU respond to Trump's latest tariffs?

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

Investigation reveals legal and human rights concerns in Italy-Albania asylum centres

Imagine risking everything to reach safety, only to be sent to another country against your will. That’s exactly what happened to Nizam, who crossed the Mediterranean for a better life in Italy, only to end up detained in a camp in Albania. He’s just one of many asylum seekers caught in Giorgia Meloni’s so-called “fast-track” asylum system. 

EU leaders push Vučić on reforms but stay silent on Serbia’s protests

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dined with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa in Brussels last night. And what sounds like a simple diplomatic dinner was in reality a chance for the EU to ask Belgrade to deliver on EU reforms if it wants to join the block, but nothing on the protests was discussed. 

So how long can the EU keep ignoring the growing protests in Serbia before it risks losing credibility in the region?

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Europe's fight against femicide despite data gaps and taboos has begun

Femicide is not just a word. It's a tragedy, and a manifestation of the deep-rooted inequality women face in every corner of society. It’s not just the tragic end of a life; it’s the culmination of years of violence, abuse, and power imbalances that have been allowed to fester unchecked.

Unfortunately, despite legal advancements, femicides remain a persistent issue across Europe. Some countries have introduced comprehensive laws to combat gender-based violence. But others still lack legal recognition of femicide as a distinct crime. In turn, the lack of official data about femicides in several countries further obscures the true scale of the problem. 

So, why, then, is the legal recognition of femicides a taboo? And, beyond that, are we doing enough as societies to respond effectively to femicides?

Why US officials’ ‘pathetic Europe’ claim is a bigger deal than you think

A bombshell report from The Atlantic has revealed private Signal messages between top U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, discussing a military strike on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The problem is that they were so casual about military operations that they let a journalist into their private chat. Yup they offered him a front-row seat to active war planning and to calling Europe pathetic.

So what does all this tell us about the U.S. administration’s attitude toward Europe? And what does it mean for the future of transatlantic collaboration?

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

Erdoğan jails rival fueling protests and democracy fears

On Sunday, Turkey took a sharp turn toward full-blown autocracy. Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, arguably President Tayyip Erdoğan’s biggest political rival, was arrested and removed from office. Allegedly his crime is corruption. But in reality this is a textbook political purge. 

What does İmamoğlu’s arrest mean for Turkey’s political future and can Europe collaborate with a country sliding into dictatorship? 

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

Did Serbia use a ‘sound cannon’? Protesters call for investigation

More than half a million people have signed a petition demanding an independent investigation into whether Serbian security forces deployed a sonic weapon or a sound cannon to disperse protesters in Belgrade on March 15. 

The petition, addressed to the UN and the Council of Europe, calls for accountability, arguing that the use of illegal means against civilians is a serious violation of constitutional and international rights.

But what is a sound cannon and what is the government's response to the allegations?

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

EU Summit: Ukraine, Defence and everything you need to know

So, EU leaders have now gathered in Brussels, as they often do, to discuss Ukraine, Europe’s defense strategy, and economic competitiveness. For this summit Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will join via video link possibly in an attempt to convince Europeans to approve faster the next help package of 40 billion euros, proposed by EU’s high representative Kaja Kallas. 

But will everyone be on board and what else is on today’s agenda? 

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