Romania’s Political Turmoil: Elections, Extremism, and Foreign Influence with Sorin Ioniță
In this episode of The Lowdown, Máté Holler delves into Romania’s deepening political crisis, where a canceled election, far-right surges, and foreign interference have shaken the country’s democratic foundations. Sorin Ioniță, director of the Think Tank, Expert Forum, and a seasoned political commentator, joins to unpack the turmoil - from Kremlin-backed disinformation to unexpected influence from Washington. They explore Romania’s fragile political landscape, the rise of extremist candidates, and the stakes of the rescheduled May 2024 presidential election in a country at the crossroads of European security and democratic resilience.
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25:26
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25:26
Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom and Europe’s Crucial Role – A Conversation with Maria Borysenko
In this episode of The Lowdown, Maria Borysenko, a Ukrainian activist and expert in analytics and advocacy, joins us to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine and the rights of Ukrainians in Germany. Maria shares her firsthand experiences of the conflict, the resilience of the Ukrainian people, and the transformations shaping Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty. She explores the war’s impact on Europe, the role of international support, and the power of advocacy in securing Ukraine’s future.
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26:20
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26:20
Change at the Labour Party - In conversation with Jewish MP, Sarah Sackman
In this episode of The Lowdown, Judith Offenberg interviews Sarah Sackman, MP for Finchley and Golders Green and Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services. Sarah reflects on Labour’s transformation under Keir Starmer, the fight against antisemitism, and how the party regained the trust of Jewish voters. They discuss the 2024 landslide victory, the government’s response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, and the steps being taken to create safer, more inclusive campuses for Jewish students.
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16:51
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16:51
Serbia in Turmoil: Deep Dive with Harvard’s Dr. Danilo Mandić
In this episode of The Lowdown, Máté Holler dives into the political upheaval in Serbia, where mass student-led protests have led to the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević. Dr. Danielo Mandić, Associate Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Harvard University, joins to break down the protest movement, the broader struggle for democratization, and the regime’s efforts to consolidate power. They explore Serbia’s political landscape, the parallels with other hybrid regimes, and what this crisis means for the country’s EU ambitions.
Later, we hear from Serbian Jewish student Noa Fisher, who shares her personal experiences from the protests and reflects on how Jewish students in Serbia engage with the movement.
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48:13
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48:13
Entanglements of War: Social Networks during the Holocaust with Eliyana R. Adler and Natalia Aleksiun
Join host Máté Holler on The Lowdown as we delve into the complexities of the Shoah with Dr. Natalia Aleksiun and Dr. Eliyana Adler, editors of the book Entanglements of War: Social Networks During the Holocaust. As International Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches, we explore the untold stories of resilience and social networks that shaped Jewish survival. The episode reminds us how central human connections and resilience were, and in fact, still are in the Jewish story.
The Lowdown is the European Union of Jewish Students' monthly podcast. In each episode, we discuss a different topic within the broad fields of global development and human rights, alongside a leading decision-maker on the topic. The podcast takes each issue from a Jewish youth perspective - asking how can we boost Jewish youth activism on each topic.
Supported by the European Commission
Österreich