Podcast appearances and mentions of jeremy cliffe

After talks in Germany on government spending collapsed, chancellor Olaf Scholz was forced to dissolve his coalition and call for snap elections, to be held on 23 February. The new chancellor looks like a foregone conclusion - opposition leader Friedrich Merz. But there is so much more at stake in these elections than the next few years in the chancellor's seat. In the run up to Germany's snap general elections Jeremy Cliffe goes to Ludwigshafen, a symbol of Germany's economic woes.

Max, Donatienne, and Otto discuss Trump's recent statements about Greenland and the reactions to Elon Musk's interjections into European politics. They are then joined by Jeremy Cliffe, editorial director and senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, to preview the upcoming German elections and Europe's approach to Trump's return to the White House.  Learn more:  Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts  The Merz doctrine: What a CDU-led government would mean for German foreign policy | ECFR  Searching for Deutschland Podcast - Apple Podcasts 

What if the rush to war in 1914 had been averted? What if the Berlin Crisis of 1961 had led to nuclear war? What if the liberal revolution of 1848 had been successful? A new exhibition in Berlin considers a series of momentous what-ifs, an intriguing addition to the canon of counterfactual history. In this week's long read, the New Statesman's contributing writer Jeremy Cliffe assesses the value of such rival realities, as explored in fiction and, increasingly, on social media platforms and alt-fic online communities. In contemporary British politics, the tumult of the past decade has inspired a new cottage industry of counterfactual histories. Often derided as pure speculation, Cliffe makes the case for their usefulness and, from his home in Berlin, reflects on the city's many ghosts. “History is about facts,” he writes. “But those facts include intentions, imagined futures and visions that shape actual events even when – much more often than not – they never come to pass.”Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Chris Stone.This article originally appeared in the 28 July-17 August summer issue of the New Statesman. You can read the text version here.If you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy Thomas Mann, German identity and the romantic allure of Russia, by Jeremy Cliffe.Listen to all our Audio Long Reads herehttps://podfollow.com/audio-long-reads-new-statesmanDownload the New Statesman app:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=USSubscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week:https://newstatesman.com/podcastofferSign up to our weekly Saturday Read emailhttps://saturdayread.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the rush to war in 1914 had been averted? What if the Berlin Crisis of 1961 had led to nuclear war? What if the liberal revolution of 1848 had been successful? A new exhibition in Berlin considers a series of momentous what-ifs, an intriguing addition to the canon of counterfactual history. In this week's long read, the New Statesman's contributing writer Jeremy Cliffe assesses the value of such rival realities, as explored in fiction and, increasingly, on social media platforms and alt-fic online communities. In contemporary British politics, the tumult of the past decade has inspired a new cottage industry of counterfactual histories. Often derided as pure speculation, Cliffe makes the case for their usefulness and, from his home in Berlin, reflects on the city's many ghosts. “History is about facts,” he writes. “But those facts include intentions, imagined futures and visions that shape actual events even when – much more often than not – they never come to pass.”Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Chris Stone.This article originally appeared in the 28 July-17 August summer issue of the New Statesman. You can read the text version here.If you enjoyed listening to this episode, you might also enjoy Thomas Mann, German identity and the romantic allure of Russia, by Jeremy Cliffe.Download the New Statesman app:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=USSubscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week:https://newstatesman.com/podcastofferSign up to our weekly Saturday Read emailhttps://saturdayread.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2018, prime minister Pedro Sánchez has led a surprisingly durable and impactful Spanish government, implementing progressive policies such as improved rights for abortion, transgender people and migrants. His coalition government has repositioned Spain as a European “pivot” state, a bridge between north and south, east and west. Its economy is predicted to grow faster than that of Germany, France and Italy.But will any of this be enough to keep Sanchez in power after the 23 July general election? He faces significant challenges from the conservative People's Party, as well as new alliances on the left – an increasingly fragmented political environment that mirrors trends seen across Europe, as identity politics, the climate crisis, and demographic shifts reshape many once stable two-party systems. In this wide-ranging essay, New Statesman contributing writer Jeremy Cliffe reflects on what Spain and its election tells us about the future of Europe. By 2030, he writes, “politics in many states will be defined by the normalised collapse of the cordon sanitaire between mainstream conservatism and the far right. It will be a landscape in which the left can only win by forging broad and canny coalitions.” If Silvio Berlusconi's divisive authoritarianism presaged our present moment, Sanchez and his battles could point the way to our European future. Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Chris Stone. This article originally appeared in the 14-20 July issue of the New Statesman. You can read the text version here.If you enjoyed listening to this episode, you may also like A brief history of “woke”: how one word fuelled the culture wars.Subscribers can listen ad-free via the New Statesman app. Download it now:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=USSubscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week with our special podcast offer: https://newstatesman.com/podcastofferSign up to receive The Saturday Read - our weekly email highlighting the best writing from the New Statesman and around the web: https://saturdayread.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2018, prime minister Pedro Sánchez has led a surprisingly durable and impactful Spanish government, implementing progressive policies such as improved rights for abortion, transgender people and migrants. His coalition government has repositioned Spain as a European “pivot” state, a bridge between north and south, east and west. Its economy is predicted to grow faster than that of Germany, France and Italy.But will any of this be enough to keep Sanchez in power after the 23 July general election? He faces significant challenges from the conservative People's Party, as well as new alliances on the left – an increasingly fragmented political environment that mirrors trends seen across Europe, as identity politics, the climate crisis, and demographic shifts reshape many once stable two-party systems. In this wide-ranging essay, New Statesman contributing writer Jeremy Cliffe reflects on what Spain and its election tells us about the future of Europe. By 2030, he writes, “politics in many states will be defined by the normalised collapse of the cordon sanitaire between mainstream conservatism and the far right. It will be a landscape in which the left can only win by forging broad and canny coalitions.” If Silvio Berlusconi's divisive authoritarianism presaged our present moment, Sanchez and his battles could point the way to our European future. Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Chris Stone. This article originally appeared in the 14-20 July issue of the New Statesman. You can read the text version here.If you enjoyed listening to this episode, you may also like A brief history of “woke”: how one word fuelled the culture wars.Subscribers can listen ad-free via the New Statesman app. Download it now:iOS: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/new-statesman-magazine/id610498525Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.progressivemediagroup.newstatesman&hl=en_GB&gl=USSubscribe to the New Statesman from £1 per week with our special podcast offer: https://newstatesman.com/podcastofferSign up to receive The Saturday Read - our weekly email highlighting the best writing from the New Statesman and around the web: https://saturdayread.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Tuesday (30 May), several drones damaged buildings in Moscow in by far the largest attack on the Russian capital since the war in Ukraine began. Kyiv denies carrying out the strikes – at least one of which affected Rublyovka, a wealthy suburb home to many of Russia's elite, and close to where Putin has an official residence. Megan Gibson and Katie Stallard discuss the strategy behind the attacks, how they might be viewed by Ukraine's allies, and whether further strikes on Russian territory are likely. The discussion then moves to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's re-election as Turkish president and what it could mean for Sweden's bid to join Nato.Read more:Katie examines the domestic pressure on Putin. Jeremy Cliffe on the limits of ErdoğanismKatie on Ukraine's coming counter-offensive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 2023 saw two significant gatherings of the Tory right: the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) in Bournemouth, and the National Conservative Conference in London. The latter was organised by the US-based think tank the Edmund Burke Foundation, and drew heavily on its ideas about family, faith and the failures of globalism and liberal individualism. The former was emphatically not a ‘Bring Back Boris' convention (the ex-prime minister did not attend), though it numbered several of his political cheerleaders and delegates nostalgic for the boosterism of the Johnson years. In this week's long read, the New Statesman's commissioning editor and writer Will Lloyd attends both conferences, and explores the origins of their discontent. Is he witnessing “the final crack-up of British conservatism, or the birth of a new, harder-edged ideological programme that will dominate the party for years to come”? Will American populism shape the next generation of Tories? Through conversations with ministers, delegates, journalists and assorted hangers-on, Lloyd pieces together a darkly entertaining portrait of the Conservative right. Written and read by Will Lloyd. This article originally appeared in the 26 May-2 June edition of the New Statesman. You can read the text version here. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy listening to The strange death of moderate conservatism by Jeremy Cliffe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, oversaw a muted parade in Moscow for Victory Day on 9 May, which celebrates the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany. Where in previous years there have been grand shows of military might, this year there was a single, Second World War-era, tank. Rather than a show of force, the parade showed how a year of war in Ukraine has degraded Russia's military. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, meanwhile, reinforced his country's turn towards the West.Katie Stallard in Washington DC, and Jeremy Cliffe and Ido Vock in Berlin, analyse what the pared-back celebrations in Moscow say about the Kremlin's relationship with its citizens. Next, they turn to Turkey, where Recep Tayyip Erdoğan faces the sternest electoral challenge of his presidency.Read more:Katie Stallard on Putin under pressureJeremy Cliffe asks: has authoritarianism peaked?Ido Vock on Yevgeny Prigozhin's relationship with Vladimir Putin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine last year, there has been a strong focus on the China-Russia relationship – and on whether Xi Jinping might be preparing to distance himself from Russia, or, as Emmanuel Macron hopes, to pressure Putin to end the war. That debate intensified after Xi's visit to Moscow in March. Ido Vock and Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin, along with Katie Stallard in Washington DC, discuss the history of the two countries' relations, what message the recent visit was intended to send, and where the areas of tension lie. Next, we turn to Turkey whose citizens will head to the polls on 14 May for what are expected to be the closest elections for decades. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has ruled Turkey in one form or another for 20 years, could lose to a united opposition. The team discuss the opposition parties' chances – and what might happen if they win.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Read more: Europe lost Turkey once, writes Jeremy. It cannot afford to make the same mistake again. Katie on the world according to Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Much ink has been spilled in recent years on the woes of centre-left parties across the West – some of it prematurely, as Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Spain's Pedro Sánchez, Australia's Anthony Albanese and perhaps soon Keir Starmer in Britain can attest. The bigger and quite possibly more lasting story of political decline, however, is on the centre-right. A decade ago, moderate conservative figures like David Cameron and Angela Merkel were pre-eminent. Today the tendencies those leaders represented have largely been sidelined, the parties in question having moved to the right, been ecclipsed by more hardline forces, or both. In this long read Jeremy Cliffe, the New Statesman's writer at large, charts that international pattern, from Trumpism in the US to the rise of the hard-right in European countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Sweden. He also explores the deeper structural forces behind those shifts and how the electoral and sociological foundations that long sustained moderate conservatism – and made it the dominant Western political tendency for much of the past seven decades – are breaking up. What, he asks, does the future hold for right-of-centre politics? Written and read by Jeremy CliffeThis article was originally published as the New Statesman's 15 February 2023 magazine cover story. You can read the text version here.If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy: Era of the rogue superpower: what Trump's bid means for the US, Russia and China.Subscribers can get an ad free version of the NS Podcast on the New Statesman appPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Ukraine marks one year since Russia's invasion, Ido Vock is joined by Ukrainian journalist and broadcaster Maria Romanenko, military expert Mark Galeotti and the New Statesman's writer at large Jeremy Cliffe. They discuss how Ukrainians felt at the outbreak of war, whether Western support to Kyiv will hold and how the war could eventually end. Read more:Oleksiy Danilov: “Weak people always come up with excuses not to act”No, Russia isn't about to break apartIs Ukraine prepared for the coming offensive? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany's delay sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine frustrated European allies – will it do lasting damage to relations on the continent? Was this a missed opportunity for Scholz to have led the way internationally in the fight against Russia? Alex Andreou speaks to Jeremy Cliffe, New Statesman's writer-at-large based in Berlin, to discuss Germany's position and what it tells us about the nation.  “Germany's perspective on the world has required adjusting… it has edged towards making more responsibility.”  “It took too long for Scholz to grapple with the problems, reflection is one thing, putting one's head in the sand is another.”  “Germany's political culture moves quite gradually and slowly.”  “Being highly methodological and efficient can also lead to great inefficiency.”  www.patreon.com/bunkercast  Presented by Alex Andreou. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production: Robin Leeburn. Lead Producer: Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the show, we look at the deployment of western main battle tanks to Ukraine, specifically the importance placed on the Leopard II and the contentious diplomacy seen this week to pressure Germany into allowing its export. What kind of capabilities will these new weapons give to Ukraine, amid fears of Russian offensive looming in the spring? We also discuss Germany and the intense pressure Olaf Scholz's government has been under since the invasion of Ukraine started. How has Germany's standing changed over the last twelve months, and what are the challenges facing the country as a long and cold winter sets in for relations with Russia?     Joining Bronwen Maddox from Berlin this week is Jeremy Cliffe, Writer-at-Large for The New Statesman Magazine. Alongside them is Orysia Lutsevych, the Head of our Ukraine Forum, Ed Arnold, a Research Fellow for European Security at the Royal United Services Institute, and Marion Messmer, a Senior Research Fellow in the International Security Programme here at Chatham House. Read our expertise: Scholz will bow to pressure to send tanks to Ukraine What is Labour's foreign policy? UK-Europe relations finally head in the right direction Subscribe to Independent Thinking wherever you get your podcasts. Please listen, rate, review and subscribe. Presented by Bronwen Maddox. Produced by John Pollock. Sound by Abdul Boudiaf and Robin Gardner.

This week Olaf Scholz confirmed that Germany will send 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine and gave partner countries permission to send their tanks too. The decision, which could have a significant effect on the war, came after months of stalling.Megan Gibson in London, Katie Stallard in Washington DC and Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin discuss what led to Germany's shift, what toll the delay has taken and how Russia will respond.Next, they turn to the alarming rise in mass shootings in the US this year – including a series of shootings in California in which 19 people were killed in less than 48 hours. The team discuss the experience of gun violence, public support for gun control legislation, and why this is also a foreign policy issue.Then, in You Ask Us, a listener asks what led to the resignation of Jacinda Ardern as prime minister of New Zealand.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more Read more:Jeremy writes that Germany took too long to reach the right decision on tanks, and he calls the country the “roadblock at the heart of Europe”.Katie says that Jacinda Ardern's resignation is both a shock and entirely unsurprising.Sarah Churchwell on the myth of America's love affair with guns.Bruno Maçães interviews Ukraine's national security adviser on German betrayal, the oncoming Russian onslaught and why the West is scared. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A helicopter carrying senior Ukrainian officials crashed on Wednesday (18 January) near a nursery in a suburb of Kyiv. According to reports, children were among those killed, as well as three government officials including the interior minister Denys Monastyrsky – the highest-ranking official to die since the start of the Russian invasion. Ido Vock in Berlin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC discuss what we know about the tragedy so far and why so many officials were travelling on a single aircraft. They also discuss the latest developments in the war, including the Russian missile strike on a block of flats in Dnipro over the weekend that killed at least 45 people, and changes to the Russian military leadership. Next, they turn to China, where Qin Gang, the former US ambassador, has been appointed foreign minister ahead of the US secretary of state Antony Blinken's expected visit to Beijing in early February. They discuss Gang's reputation for combative “wolf warrior” diplomacy, and whether China is moving away from this approach. If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more Read more: Katie on China's new foreign minister and the taming of “wolf warrior” diplomacy Ido on what we know about the helicopter crash that killed three Ukrainian officials Ido writes that new commander Valery Gerasimov may not be able to stem Russia's losses Jeremy Cliffe writes that divisions over Ukraine are exposing the incoherence of German foreign policy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Twitter and Facebook stumble through Elon Musk's takeover and Mark Zuckerberg's insistence on the metaverse, questions abound about the future of social media. What sort of news and discussion should it host and encourage? What should be its attitude to participation, networking, user rights and free speech? What should be its business model? What societal role should it seek to play? What, ultimately, is it for? In this essay for the New Statesman's special Christmas issue of 2022, Jeremy Cliffe imagines the improved, restored social network of the future by drawing on the heritage of the coffeehouse, “the original social network”. It was here, as the German theorist Jürgen Habermas has argued, that the concept of the public sphere arose: a space for news and discussion dominated neither by the state nor the market. Cliffe explores the history and literature of the coffeehouse tradition to find lessons for the troubled social media platforms of today – and those who would seek to challenge them. Written and read by Jeremy Cliffe. This article appears in the 07 Dec 2022 issue of the New Statesman, Christmas Special. You can read text version here.If you enjoyed this episode, listen to Are ‘Substackademics' the new public intellectuals?Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday (8 January), hundreds of Jair Bolsonaro supporters stormed Oscar Niemeyer's modernist government buildings in the Brazilian capital Brasilia in an apparent attempt to overthrow the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Ido Vock and Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin are joined by Alona Ferber in London to discuss who was behind the failed coup and what it means for the country, as well as the disturbing parallels between this insurrection and the one at the US Capitol two years ago. Next, the team turn to Israel, where the new governing coalition, led once more by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (who is still on trial for criminal charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud), has been busy pushing judicial reforms that his opponents say will erode the country's democracy. They discuss his attempted reforms, whether the shift to the right is a continuation or a break for the country, and what this means for Israel's foreign policy relations, particularly in the Middle East. Then in You Ask Us, a listener question asks why Ukrainian hero Stepan Bandera is considered to be so controversial by the country's allies.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more Read more:Alona on the biggest winner in Israel's election - the far right. Ido on Ukraine's problematic nationalist heroesSarah Manavis writes the Brazil riots were openly planned on social media. So why was nothing done?Oliver Basciano write the attack on Brazil's Congress had the aesthetics of a coup, without the danger Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of the publication of her new book, And Then What?, the first-ever EU high representative for foreign affairs and security, Catherine Ashton, talks to Jeremy Cliffe about the role the EU can play in international crisis, drawing on her experience in overseeing the union's relations with Ukraine, Iran and the western Balkans. She also discusses the future of its ties to Britain and the US.Read more: The Ukraine war has made predictions futileIran's regime won't be easily toppledTen crucial questions about the world in 2023 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her final episode on the World Review podcast, Emily Tamkin in Washington DC is joined by Jeremy Cliffe and Ido Vock in Berlin to look ahead to the stories that might dominate 2023 – from chaos in the US Republican Party to Russia's war in Ukraine, to a potential moral panic over the role of artifical intelligence – and the global impact they could have. Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Read more:You can keep reading Emily's work on her substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Statesman international team examine some of the most significant moments of 2022, from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to elections, including Viktor Orbán's victory in Hungary, Jair Bolsonaro's defeat in Brazil and the US midterms. Emily Tamkin in Washington DC, and Jeremy Cliffe and Ido Vock in Berlin review their predictions for the past year – with Katie Stallard and Megan Gibson dialling in – and look at what they got wrong and right.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more Read more: Emily's seven predictions for the world in 2022 Jeremy's ten crucial questions about the world in 2022 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Europe today has a dominant leader, it is Emmanuel Macron. He has big, deeply thought-through ideas about his country's role in Europe and the world, and grand ambitions for enhancing it. Following his re-election as French president in April, he is now secure in office until 2027. And having lost his legislative majority at elections in June, he is turning to the world stage with all the more vigour. Now, then is a good time to ask: what is the Macron Doctrine? In his cover essay for the magazine, Jeremy Cliffe explains that the doctrine has two main pillars: a traditional vision of France as an independent global “balancing power” and a more novel emphasis on “European sovereignty”. The pursuit of these two goals, combined with Macron's distinctly self-confident and hyperactive personal style, defines the president's foreign policy record to date, its achievements and missteps, and his foreign-policy ambitions for his second term. But, Cliffe argues, he will only succeed in realising his ambitions if he applies the lessons from the past five years. Written and read by Jeremy Cliffe. This article originally appeared in the New Statesman's 3 December 2022 issue. You can read the text version here. You may also enjoy listening to Travelling through Macron's France, from the Channel to the Mediterranean. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An extraordinary wave of protests has swept across cities and university campuses in China demanding an end to draconian zero-Covid measures that have been in place for almost three years. In one of the most significant outbursts of public discontent since the Tiananmen Square demonstrations more than 30 years ago, over the weekend protesters could be heard shouting “Xi Jinping, step down” and censorship has been stretched to the limit. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin to discuss the frustration and anger that has driven these protests, why the Chinese government is in a trap of its own making, and whether the death of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin could trigger further unrest. Next, they turn to Emmanuel Macron, the French president, who has been hosted by Joe Biden, the US president, in the first White House state visit since the Democrats took power in early 2021. The team discuss why the old alliance is resurfacing now, Macron's hyperactive foreign policy and the “Macron Doctrine” that underpins it, as outlined in Jeremy's cover piece for this week's New Statesman magazine. Then in You Ask Us, a listener question on a shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs on 19 November and the role of right-wing politicians and media outlets in fuelling hatred and moral panics around queer and trans people.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer: visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to learn more Read more: Katie on why the death of Jiang Zemin could be a problem for Xi Jinping Katie on what China's lockdown protests mean for Xi. Jeremy on Emmanuel Macron: the man who would be king. Ido on the underlying tension of Macron's US state visit. Emily on why the US gun lobby has a fatal grip on American politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The left is back in power in Brazil with the election of Lula de Silva — and decidedly out of power in Israel. Emily Tamkin in Washington is joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin and Alona Ferber in London. First, they talk about how Lula returned to office and how Jair Bolsonaro, the defeated right-wing incumbent president, and his supporters are responding. Then, they turn to Israel, where Benjamin Netanyahu, the former prime minister, is poised for a comeback of his own with the help of far-right extremists. The team also takes a listener question on what role political violence is playing in the US midterm elections.If you have a question for You Ask Us, go to newstatesman.com/youaskusPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Read more:Jeremy writes Lula's victory in Brazil shows how authoritarianism can be defeatedAlona asks who is the biggest winner in Israel's election? The far rightEmily on why political violence in the US has always been there, waiting to erupt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the Italian election victory of the post-fascist Giorgia Meloni and her Fratelli d'Italia party last weekend, many have asked what relationship it has with the country's fascist past. To discuss this, Jeremy Cliffe is joined by the historian David Broder, Europe editor at Jacobin and the author of the forthcoming book Mussolini's Grandchildren: Fascism in Contemporary Italy.Their conversation covers the emergence of the Italian Social Movement in the postwar years, Meloni's early years in politics in the 1990s, the relationship between post-fascism and Silvio Berlusconi's governments, and the Fratelli d'Italia party today. Listeners can pre-order Mussolini's Grandchildren: Fascism in Contemporary Italy and get 20 per cent off using the discount code "BRODER20". Read more: Jeremy on the meaning and making of Giorgia Meloni.Jeremy on the Italian election results.David Broder on what the European right wants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 23 September 2022, the UK's new prime minister and her chancellor delivered their explosive “mini-Budget”, cutting taxes for the richest in society and increasing government borrowing. Global markets were alarmed – but should the reality of Trussonomics have taken anyone by surprise? In this reported long read, the New Statesman's writer at large Jeremy Cliffe looks at the ideas, institutions and thinkers who have shaped Truss's politics for decades, from a society of free-market thinkers who gathered at Lake Geneva in 1947, to today's libertarian think tanks in Massachusetts Avenue, Washington DC, and Tufton Street, London (where many of the current cabinet have worked). Cliffe talks to those who have followed Truss's rise most closely, and who detect the influence of Thatcher, Reagan and even Khrushchev in her thinking. But is her government now too radical even for her former colleagues? And where will a prime minister who some believe “actually wants to destabilise things” go next? Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Rachel Cunliffe. This article originally appeared on 28 September on newstatesman.com and in the 30 September – 6 October issue of the magazine. You can read the text version here. If you enjoyed this, you may enjoy “Boris Johnson: The death of the clown” by Ed DocxPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giorgia Meloni's post-fascist Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party claimed victory in the Italian election on Sunday 25 September. Meloni is now on the verge of becoming the country's first female prime minister. Emily Tamkin in Washington DC is joined by Jeremy Cliffe and Ido Vock in Berlin to discuss what Meloni can be expected to usher in for Italy and for Europe more broadly. They also talk about the blurred line between the centre right and the far right, and Meloni's plans to redesign the constitution in favour of a more presidential system. Next, the team turns to Ukraine, where Vladimir Putin's four illegal referendums aimed at annexing occupied regions of the country have been passed. They discuss what happens next, as well as whether Russia sabotaged its own Nord Stream pipelines.In You Ask Us, a listener asks whether Jair Bolsonaro will concede in Brazil's presidential election next month.Further reading:Jeremy writes Giorgia Meloni's post-fascist party triumphs in the Italian election.Phil Clarke-Hill asks what is at stake in Brazil's presidential election?Jeremy on the making and meaning of Giorgia Meloni.Ido writes the Nord Stream pipeline "sabotage" shows the weakness of Europe's critical infrastructure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giorgia Meloni started out as the awkward outsider, a woman from humble Roman roots in an Italy whose politics have long been dominated by alpha men from the north – Silvio Berlusconi, Matteo Renzi, Beppe Grillo, Matteo Salvini. Now the post-fascist party she fronts - Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy, or FdI) – is widely expected to take the largest share of the vote in the 2022 general election. How did it get there, having scraped 4% in 2018? Earlier this month, the New Statesman writer at large Jeremy Cliffe travelled to Italy to find out, starting with a Turin rally more heavily policed than any he had covered before. In this richly reported essay, he traces Meloni's ideological journey, as well as that of the far-right in Italy, from the fascist war years to today's political landscape – one that is described to him as “extreme political fickleness combined with institutional stability”. Is Meloni's rise explained by Salvini's fall, as one newspaper editor tells him, or is there more at play? What does this mean for the rest of Europe? Written and read by Jeremy Cliffe. This article originally appeared in the New Statesman's 23 September 2022 issue. You can read the text version here. You might also enjoy listening to Nixon, Trump and the lessons of Watergate.Podcast listeners can get a subscription to the New Statesman for just £1 per week, for 12 weeks. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, with its "post-fascist" history, is leading the polls ahead of parliamentary elections on 25 September. If the party wins, she will become the country's first ever female prime minister. Emily Tamkin, the New Statesman's senior editor, US, speaks to author Tim Parks on how much the vote is about Italy's ideological direction, the country's revamped election system, and whether the centre-left alliance will prevent a right-wing landslide.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Further reading: Jeremy Cliffe asks whether Giorgia Meloni be the next prime minister of Italy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ukrainian forces have been making rapid and remarkable advances in the north-east of the country, regaining control of two key strategic hubs and a large swathe of territory in the Kharkiv region.Emily Tamkin in Washington DC, Ido Vock in Berlin and Katie Stallard in Austin discuss how this success could impact Western support and how far Ukraine could go.Next, the team turns to murmurings of dissent in Russia following Ukraine's gains. They discuss what criticism broadcast on Russian state TV signals about Vladimir Putin's position, his relationship with Xi Jinping, and what his options are now.Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks why the Sweden Democrats did so well in Sweden's election.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Further reading:Ido Vock reports on Ursula von der Leyen doubling down on EU support for Ukraine.Lawrence Freedman writes that, suddenly, Ukraine is winning.Katie Stallard on why China won't ditch Vladimir Putin.Jeremy Cliffe says Sweden's general election could result in a far-right backed government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1947, on her 21st birthday, Elizabeth Windsor promised that when she ascended the royal throne she would serve “our great imperial family”. By the time of her coronation six years later, the Crown's ties with empire were already significantly weaker. Yet for the duration of her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II would remain a human link to old imperial Britain – the original “global Britain” – and its virtues and principles, real and imagined. Her death is a rupture, a breaking of that final connection with an era that is long gone yet remains nation-defining for Britain today. In this reflection on her reign, the New Statesman's writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe considers the long shadow of empire and the ways in which it shaped both the second Elizabethan era and the UK's sense of its place in the world. He looks, too, at the waxing and waning of the Queen's authority; she was not a political figure, and so has been embraced during politically turbulent times such as these. Will her son, King Charles III, now manage similar feats of unification?Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Hugh Smiley.This article was originally published on newstatesman.com on 9 September. You can read the text version here.You might also enjoy listening to The lonely decade, how the 1990s shaped us by Gavin Jacobson.Podcast listeners can get a subscription to the New Statesman for just £1 per week, for 12 weeks. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today (24 August) marks 31 years since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union and six months since Vladimir Putin's invasion which has killed thousands and shaken the global order. This year, national celebrations are muted as the country braces for possible Russian attacks.In this special episode of World Review, Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC, are joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin to discuss his New Statesman cover story on “The war that changed the world”. In revisiting the past six months, they praise Ukraine's resilience and resistance, ask whether support from the West will continue during what is expected to be a difficult winter, and uncover the extent of China's relations with Russia. They also hear from the Estonian foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu about Russia's claim that his country was involved in the killing of Darya Dugina, daughter of the prominent Russian ultra-nationalist Alexander Dugin.Then in You Ask Us a listener asks whether the war will be over by the end of the year.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Further reading:Ido Vock reports Estonia dismisses Russia's claim it was involved in Dugina killing.Katie Stallard on what the murder of Darya Dugina means for Russia. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why, six months into Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, is Germany still struggling to come to terms with the new European reality? For explanations, some point to the country's reliance on Russian gas; others to the legacy of the Second World War or the Cold War. Yet, as Jeremy Cliffe argues in this essay from the New Statesman's 2022 Summer Special issue, to fully understand Germany's instinct to maintain cordial relations with Russia, we have to go back much further than 1945 – into the nation's cultural history and “the darker, older mists of the German psyche and imagination”. Fortunately, says Cliffe, “there is a guide”: Thomas Mann's Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man, first published in 1918 and reissued in English in 2021. In it, the German novelist set out his nationalistic views in the wake of the First World War, but also his strong conviction (inspired by German romanticism) that a special kinship existed between Germans and Russians. The two peoples, Mann thought, were united by a profound appreciation of “culture”, which he contrasted with a rationalist, liberal, “Anglo-French” regard for “civilization”. In subsequent years his views changed drastically, as he shifted towards the liberal left and an embrace of democratic Western rationalism. Cliffe's piece tells the story of Reflections, Mann's political journey in the decades that followed and the related journey that Germany itself would also take. This progression, he argues, illustrates a dualism that continues to mark German identity – as torn between west and east, the rationalist and the romantic traditions, a liberal-democratic political vocation and an enduring cultural attraction to Russia. Understanding this tension, says Cliffe, helps to explain why Germany greeted the end of the Cold War with such euphoria three decades ago, and why it finds it so difficult to accept today that the era of post-Cold War optimism has come to an end. This article was published in the 29 July 2022 issue of the New Statesman. You can read the text version here. Written and read by Jeremy Cliffe.You might also enjoy listening to “Wrestling with Orwell: Ian McEwan on the art of the political novel”.Podcast listeners can get a subscription to the New Statesman for just £1 per week, for 12 weeks. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina a dispute over a proposed new elections law has led to protests and concerns about the stability of the country. For more than 25 years since the Bosnian War ended in 1995 the country has been governed through a complex federal system intended to strike a balance between the three main ethnic groups: Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats. Many Bosnian Croats, however, now want changes that would, they say, give them better representation.Alix Kroeger speaks to Gerald Knaus, the chairman of the European Stability Initiative, a think tank focusing on south-eastern Europe and the enlargement of the European Union. He's been researching the two big European peace agreements of the 1990s: the Dayton Peace Accords in Bosnia and the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. They discussed the parallels between the two, the role of the international community in Bosnia and the lessons for the war in Ukraine.Further reading:Jeremy Cliffe on Bosnia and the weakness of the West. Alix on the echoes of Bosnia in Ukraine.Ivan Krastev and Mark Leonard on the end of peace in Europe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Italian prime minister, Mario Draghi, has resigned after roughly a year and a half in charge of a caretaker government, meaning there will be early elections. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin to discuss why Draghi quit, the far-right coalition hoping to take power, and what a government led by Giorgia Maloni would mean for Italy and its future support for Ukraine.Meanwhile, China is warning of “serious consequences” if Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visits Taiwan, as she is said to be planning. The team discuss what's behind those threats, why the timing of the proposed visit is particularly important, and how it could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing.In You Ask Us, a listener asks why a long-term adviser to Viktor Orbán, the Hungarian prime minister, has resigned.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Further reading:Katie Stallard writes on the gathering storm over Pelosi's proposed visit to China.Jeremy Cliffe on what a Giorgia Meloni government would mean for Italy.Emily Tamkin on the threat of Viktor Orbán's anti-mixed race speech. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of a watershed moment for Europe and announced a shift in Germany's approach to foreign policy. In this special episode, in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), World Review looks at the context of this shift and whether it will make a difference to how Germany interacts with the world. Megan Gibson speaks to Katarina Barley, the vice-president of the European Parliament and a SPD politician in Germany, about what this change will look like. Then she discusses Germany's approach to foreign relations with Sophia Besch from the Centre for European Reform, Jeremy Cliffe, the New Statesman's writer-at-large, and Christos Katsioulis, head of the FES regional centre for cooperation and peace in Europe, in a conversation recorded shortly after the FES Tiergarten Conference “Zeitenwende: Into a new era”, held in June. For more information on the FES, visit uk.fes.de or the FES Competence Centre for Peace and Security. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, resigned as Conservative Party leader last week, bowing to pressure after more than 50 government resignations. Emily Tamkin in Israel and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by the host of the New Statesman podcast and the NS's Britain editor, Anoosh Chakelian, to discuss the race to replace him, the candidates' foreign policy agendas and what Johnson's departure might mean for the UK's support for Ukraine. In Japan, the country's former prime minister Abe Shinzo has died after being shot while making a speech in the western city of Nara. The team discuss the attack, Abe's political legacy and what his death means for Japan and the politics of the wider Asia-Pacific region. Then, in You Ask Us, a listener asks what to watch for in US president Joe Biden's visit with Israel's interim prime minister, Yair Lapid. Further reading: Emily Tamkin explains how Joe Biden's democratic values will be tested in the Middle East. Katie Stallard on the assassination of Abe Shinzo. Jeremy Cliffe on the political legacy of Japan's longest-serving prime minister.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Friday 24 June, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe vs Wade, a 1973 decision that guaranteed the right to an abortion. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC are joined by Jeremy Cliffe in Madrid to discuss the fear and frustration felt on the ground in America, the Democrats' lukewarm response amid rising polarisation in the country, and the global implications of the decision.Meanwhile in Madrid, Nato leaders have met this week for a pivotal summit, the organisation's first since Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year. The team discusses Turkey's decision to lift its veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the alliance.Then in You Ask Us, a listener has a question about the significance of Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony, who was an aide to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, at the 6 January US Capitol riots committee hearings.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Further readingEmily on the end of Roe vs Wade.Katie and Emily on Roe vs Wade and the land of lost liberty.Jeremy on the new era of American darkness. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final episode of this series of France Elects Ido Vock, Europe correspondent, is joined by the New Statesman's writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe to digest France's legislative election, at which Emmanuel Macron's party failed to win a majority and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally had its best ever result. Macron will now be the first president in 20 years to govern without a parliamentary majority.They discuss whether Macron and his party could have done more to prevent the far right winning so many seats, what the next few years has in store for France and whether forcing the executive to work with other factions could benefit the country's political culture.Further reading:Emmanuel Macron falls to earthFrance's Jupiter may be about to discover a culture of compromiseIn the long shadow of De GaullePodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On 7 June, the former German chancellor Angela Merkel appeared at a speaking event at a Berlin theatre, to discuss how she has spent the past six months since leaving office and reflect on present politics. Jeremy Cliffe in Berlin joins Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC to assess Merkel's defiant stance on her policies towards Moscow and ask whether we should reappraise her international legacy. Could she have done more to prepare Germany, Ukraine and the rest of Europe for Russia's invasion?Meanwhile, in a speech in Moscow on 9 June, Vladimir Putin compared himself to Peter the Great and his leadership during Russia's Great Northern War against Sweden. He claimed that the imperialist, who ruled tsarist Russia from 1682 to 1725, was “returning and reinforcing” Russian land, and “it fell to us to return and reinforce as well”. The team discuss this troubling historical comparison and why so many commentators appear reluctant to believe that Putin does not envisage a future for Ukraine as a sovereign state.Then, in You Ask Us, a listener notes that unlike other networks Fox News did not air the first public hearing on the Capitol riot that shocked America and the world on 6 January 2021. The listener asked how concerned we should be that a major news network is helping to create an alternative reality for a significant portion of the US.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Further reading:Jeremy Cliffe writes that Angela Merkel's self-justification over Russia does not add upKatie Stallard on Vladimir the Great See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emmanuel Macron has defeated Marine Le Pen to be re-elected as president of France. Emily Tamkin in Washington DC, Ido Vock in Paris and the New Statesman's associate business editor Emma Haslett in London discuss the response in Europe, Macron's relationship with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and the future of the far-right in France.Then they move to Twitter, which Elon Musk is set to purchase for $44bn. They discuss the potential reasons for the deal and how the self-described “free speech absolutist” might change the platform.Then, in You Ask Us a listener asks whether Russia is going to invade Moldova.Further reading:Will Dunn writes that Elon Musk's Twitter takeover is about controlling attention.Emily Tamkin asks whether we are prepared for Donald Trump to return to Twitter.Jeremy Cliffe reports that Emmanuel Macron promises humility in victory.Ido Vock on accusations that Russia is orchestrating attacks in Moldovan breakaway region. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the eve of the 2022 French presidential election, the New Statesman's writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe caught a train from Courseulles-sur-Mer on the north coast of France to Marseille on the Mediterranean. Stopping in Caen, Paris and Vierzon along the way, he heard how contemporary France is reshaping itself in the long shadow of Charles de Gaulle – and against the backdrop of Europe's biggest war since 1945. What does the future hold for the Fifth Republic? Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Adrian Bradley.Subscribe to Audio Long Reads, from the New Statesman here. Read the text version here. It was first published on the New Statesman website on 12 March 2022, and in the magazine on 18 March 2022. To receive all our long reads, subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special podcast offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Finland and Sweden are poised to make a historic decision as the countries consider joining Nato. Polls have shown a surge in support for the move following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.Emily Tamkin in Washington, DC and Megan Gibson in London discuss this extraordinary move and its possible consequences as Sweden's elections approach, as well as the Ukrainian response. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen will go head to head with President Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential election run-off in a fortnight. Emily and Megan discuss what a potential win for Le Pen would mean for France's support of Nato and the European Union.Then, in You Ask Us, a listener asks: Finland has quite an open road-border linking it to St Petersburg; what would be the impact if that border became a Nato defence against invasion by Russia?If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer.Further reading:Alix Kroeger on why ‘Finlandisation' is not an option for Ukraine.Andrew Hussey on the evolution of Marine Le Pen.Jeremy Cliffe on the new Iron Curtain.Jeremy Cliffe on why the possibility of a Marine Le Pen victory in France is a boost for Vladimir Putin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the eve of the 2022 French presidential election, the New Statesman's writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe caught a train from Courseulles-sur-Mer on the north coast of France to Marseille on the Mediterranean. Stopping in Caen, Paris and Vierzon along the way, he heard how contemporary France is reshaping itself in the long shadow of Charles de Gaulle – and against the backdrop of Europe's biggest war since 1945. What does the future hold for the Fifth Republic? Written by Jeremy Cliffe and read by Adrian Bradley. Read the text version here. It was first published on the New Statesman website on 12 March 2022, and in the magazine on 18 March 2022. To receive all our long reads, subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special podcast offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audio Long Reads is a new podcast from the New Statesman, showcasing the best of our reported features and essays, read aloud. Ease into the weekend with stories and analysis from our authors – including Kate Mossman, Jeremy Cliffe and Sophie McBain – published every Saturday morning. Just search for Audio Long Reads from the New Statesman wherever you get your podcasts. For all our long reads, subscribe to the New Statesman for just £1 a week for 12 weeks using our special podcast offer. Just visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine raises the question: could Vladimir Putin attack Nato's eastern flank? The alliance is greatly increasing its defences all along this “New Iron Curtain”.The New Statesman's writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe has been reporting from Estonia, where the UK has doubled its military presence. He speaks to Emily Tamkin in Washington DC and Ido Vock in Berlin about the evolution of Nato since the end of the Cold War and how it has changed since the Russian invasion. Meanwhile, Joe Biden delivered a speech in Warsaw on Saturday (26 March) to reassure Ukrainians and Nato of his continued commitment. The team discuss whether it marks a permanent shift in Washington's foreign policy agenda or if attention will return once more to China.Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks if the presence of Syrian fighters in Ukraine and the potential presence of Belarusian troops changes the balance with regards to foreign intervention in the war. If you have a question for You Ask Us, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.uk.Podcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for 12 weeks for just £1 a week.Further reading:Emily Tamkin on Joe Biden's ad-lib and the limit of words.Jeremy Cliffe on the new Iron Curtain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to France Elects, an in-depth look at the 2022 French election. As Russia's siege on Ukraine continues, the New Statesman's Europe correspondent, Ido Vock, examines how the crisis is dominating the presidential campaign, and may benefit President Emmanuel Macron after he officially announced his re-election bid last Thursday (3 March).He is joined once again by Tara Varma from the European Council on Foreign Relations and Jeremy Cliffe, the New Statesman's writer-at-large.Podcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for just £1 a week. Further reading: Emmanuel Macron bids to win by positioning himself as Europe's elder stateman. Why Putin is running out of options. Ukraine's former finance minister Natalie Jaresko on how to stop Putin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Russian attacks on a number of Ukrainian cities continued on Saturday, as President Zelensky pleaded for Nato to introduce a No Fly Zone. Emily Tamkin in Washington DC is joined by Writer-at-large Jeremy Cliffe in Marseille and Managing Editor, International, Alix Kreoger on the Slovakian Ukrainian Border.They discuss why Nato is resisting a No Fly Zone, whether Europeans yet understand the true impact of the sanctions and Alix shares her reporting with refugees on Ukraine's borders with the West.Then in You Ask Us, they answer a listener's question on whether this war will force us to reevaluate the legacy of Angela Merkel.Further reading: A no-fly zone over Ukraine risks igniting war between Nato and RussiaAlix's video reporting from the borderThe exemplary resilience of Volodymyr Zelensky See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The UN reports that 136 civilian deaths have been recorded since Russia invaded Ukraine seven days ago, although the real number is likely to be "far higher". Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, and its second largest city, Kharkiv, are braced for further violence from Russian troops after missile strikes on Tuesday (1 March) that could amount to war crimes. Last night, the US president Joe Biden's State of the Union address included a standing ovation in support of Ukraine, while China has offered to be a peacemaker with Russia. Emily Tamkin and Katie Stallard in Washington DC discuss the international response and whether Vladimir Putin's fiction that this is a war of liberation will hold up as the Ukrainian people resist and Russia heads for economic collapse. Then in You Ask Us, a listener asks whether, considering the consequences of Russian investment and money being so entwined in the British economy, the UK should be far more cautious over Chinese inward investment.If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for just £1 per week.Further reading:Emily Tamkin writes that while the state of the US's resolve on Ukraine is strong, the state of the union is unclear.Ido Vock on why a no-fly zone over Ukraine risks igniting war between Nato and Ukraine.Jeremy Cliffe on the exemplary resilience of Volodymyr Zelensky.Katie Stallard on the truth about Vladimir Putin's attempt to rewrite history. Lyse Doucet's diary from Kyiv. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth day, the New Statesman's Executive Editor, Foreign, Megan Gibson, interviews the Russian security expert, Mark Galeotti. Galeotti is an honorary professor at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, and the author of The Weaponisation of Everything and We Need to Talk About Putin: How the West Gets Him Wrong. The two discuss the latest developments of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, what miscalculations Vladimir Putin has made so far and why experts failed to predict the scale of the conflict. If you have a You Ask Us question for the international team, email podcasts@newstatesman.co.ukPodcast listeners can get a special discount on subscriptions to the New Statesman. Visit www.newstatesman.com/podcastoffer to subscribe for just £1 per week.Further reading: Ido Vock reports “Scared, hopeless and silent”: anti-war Russian's are pessimistic about mass protests. Jeremy Cliffe on the exemplary resilience of Volodymyr Zelensky. Katie Stallard on how Putin has substituted his own interests for those of the Russian state. Mark Galeotti on the dark evolution of Vladimir Putin's regime. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.