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EU Confidential

POLITICO
Ukraine
European Union
Geert Wilders
Israel-Hamas War
NATO
AI Act
Russia
European Parliament Election 2024
Ursula Von Der Leyen
Germany
European Parliament
EU Enlargement
EU Migration Deal
Viktor Orbán
Brussels
Qatargate
EU Election 2024
Hungary
European Parliament Elections
Climate Change

EU Confidential is a weekly European news and politics podcast published every Friday by POLITICO Europe. Each 30-minute episode features POLITICO’s analysis of the top stories driving EU politics, as well as notable guests shaping European policy and deep-dive stories from around the Continent. It’s hosted by Sarah Wheaton, POLITICO’s chief policy correspondent, who is joined by reporters from ar... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes484Founded9 years ago
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Artwork for EU Confidential

Latest Episodes

He’s not even European — yet Donald Trump has topped POLITICO’s annual P28 ranking of the most powerful people who will shape Europe in 2026.

EU Confidential host Sarah Wheaton takes you inside the gala in Brussels — where commissioners, MEPs, diplo... more

Brussels was jolted this week by dawn raids and an alleged fraud probe involving current and former senior EU diplomats.

Host Sarah Wheaton speaks with Zoya Sheftalovich — a longtime Brussels Playbook editor who has just returned from Australia to b... more

Washington–Moscow peace maneuvers caught Europe off guard this week — raising questions about the EU’s continued relevance and readiness at a pivotal moment for Ukraine.

Nick Vinocur, one of our regular guests, takes the host seat this time to speak ... more

When Europe’s biggest political family crosses the aisle to vote with the far right, something fundamental shifts in Brussels.

In this episode, host Sarah Wheaton unpacks the vote that cracked the European Parliament’s cordon sanitaire — and what a ... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Balázs Orbán
Political Director to Hungary's Prime Minister
Hungarian Government
Episode: Von der Leyen vs. Trump: Europe answers back
Vjosa Osmani
President of Kosovo
Kosovo
Episode: Growing pains: Can the EU handle enlargement?
Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović
Secretary General of Europa Nostra, passionate about cultural heritage and European integration
Europa Nostra
Episode: Growing pains: Can the EU handle enlargement?
Eirikur Bergmann
Political scientist discussing Iceland's EU relations
Episode: Growing pains: Can the EU handle enlargement?
Paweł Zerka
Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
European Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Humiliating Europe: Trump’s culture war and the EU’s response
Gabriel Gavin
POLITICO reporter covering elections in Moldova
POLITICO Europe
Episode: Humiliating Europe: Trump’s culture war and the EU’s response
Anna Shavit
Political marketing scholar and expert on Czech election campaigns
Charles University
Episode: Humiliating Europe: Trump’s culture war and the EU’s response
Edgars Rinkēvičs
President of Latvia
Latvia
Episode: Escalating trouble – Trump takes on the UN and Europe
Alexander Van der Bellen
President of Austria
Austria
Episode: Escalating trouble – Trump takes on the UN and Europe

Host

Sarah Wheaton
Host of a weekly European news and politics podcast, focusing on in-depth analysis of EU issues and notable guests.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Very good political insights but weak economics

    I enjoy the insightful political analysis from EU Confidential, but the economic analysis is weak. Point in case is Bulgaria’s € adoption. The report missed that fact that Bulgaria has had a quite constraining currency board already since 1997 that has required serious macro discipline. Or that monetary policy of CEE countries in the € area has been superior to those outside it including in Poland.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Freedom&DueProcess
    United States6 months ago
  • Uninformed host

    Sarah Wheaton is the worst possible host for this format. She uncritically regurgitates Russian propaganda, is this what Politico has come to?!

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    therethere1
    Germany9 months ago
  • H’mm radical right only

    I keep hearing the concerns about the ‘radical right’ what about the radical left? Is Politico left wing? Starting to sound like it…

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    N1ckname9
    New Zealand10 months ago
  • Re: Latest Episode

    Ukrainian guest said that America is big on words, short on deeds. That’s after it has spent an amount almost equal to all of Europe against the war, in spite of not actually being a European nation! It’s the taxpayers who pay for the war, and generalizations like that won’t inspire them!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    UtahBoy70
    United States10 months ago
  • Great host

    Sara‘s great. Love the more fun story-telling style. And the transatlantic perspectives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bbeatriceb
    Belgiuma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critiques mention a perceived bias in storytelling and commentary, particularly regarding U.S. influences.
Listeners appreciate the insightful political analysis and diverse guest perspectives on EU matters.
Feedback highlights strong storytelling from hosts, making complex topics accessible for audiences.
The podcast is viewed as a valuable resource for those wanting to stay informed on EU politics and current events.
Overall, the balance of content, guest quality, and engaging discussions are frequently praised.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#184
United Kingdom/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#250
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#21
Italy/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#91
France/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#106
Germany/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#166
Italy/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Von der Leyen vs. Trump: Europe answers back
Q: What will be your priority for the Commission in 2026?
Von der Leyen expressed a desire for peace in Ukraine as a primary goal, emphasizing the suffering of the Ukrainian people during the conflict.
Von der Leyen vs. Trump: Europe answers back
Q: Will there be a funding agreement by next week for Ukraine?
Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that negotiations are advancing, focusing on a just and lasting peace agreement for Ukraine.
Peace plan panic: Does the EU still have a say in Ukraine’s future?
Q: What overall influence does Europe have in the negotiations?
Europe seems sidelined, unable to impose its views effectively; it needs to make robust decisions to influence the talks.
Peace plan panic: Does the EU still have a say in Ukraine’s future?
Q: Is there a sense of frustration with Europe in Ukraine?
Yes, there's irritation towards Europe for being slow in decision-making, despite understanding their bureaucratic nature.
Peace plan panic: Does the EU still have a say in Ukraine’s future?
Q: Are there any red lines that Kyiv has been able to impose?
Yes, giving any territory to Russia and limiting the army are red lines for Ukraine.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About EU Confidential

What is EU Confidential about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Weekly discussions focus on key political developments within the European Union, blending analysis and storytelling to unravel complex issues facing the continent. Topics range from the intricacies of EU governance and enlargement to the influence of external powers like the U.S. on European affairs, often featuring prominent guests who bring firsthand insights and diverse perspectives. The program distinguishes itself with a blend of critical, sometimes provocative analysis, and a commitment to exploring the political landscape across Europe, including the rise of far-right movements and challenges of member states regarding policy implementation and social issues.

Where can I find podcast stats for EU Confidential?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for EU Confidential. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to EU Confidential and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does EU Confidential get?

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What are the audience demographics for EU Confidential?

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How many subscribers and views does EU Confidential have?

To see how many followers or subscribers EU Confidential has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to EU Confidential?

These podcasts share a similar audience with EU Confidential:

1. Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes
2. Inside Europe
3. The Rachman Review
4. The Foreign Affairs Interview
5. The Economics Show

How many episodes of EU Confidential are there?

EU Confidential launched 9 years ago and published 484 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact EU Confidential?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for EU Confidential?

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What guests have appeared on EU Confidential?

Recent guests on EU Confidential include:

1. Balázs Orbán
2. Vjosa Osmani
3. Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović
4. Eirikur Bergmann
5. Paweł Zerka
6. Gabriel Gavin
7. Anna Shavit
8. Edgars Rinkēvičs

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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