Antifa Thugs Attack Free Speech in Brussels—Reform Surges in the UK | MCC Brussels Podcast
Antifa thugs try to shut down MCC Brussels again—but we held the line. This week, Jacob Reynolds is joined by James Orr and Richard Schenk to discuss the escalating assault on free speech in Brussels, the rise of Reform UK in the polls, Keir Starmer’s sudden U-turn on immigration, and what Trump’s return means for Europe. We also dive into the culture war over Eurovision and ask: is the West finally waking up?#FreeSpeech #ReformUK #CultureWar #Trump2024 #MCCBrussels
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Crackdowns, chaos and control: What on earth is happening in Germany?
In this blistering polemic, MCC Brussels Senior Research Fellow Dr Maren Thom and Research Fellow Richard Schenk dissect a week of political chaos:Germany’s largest opposition party, the AfD, officially branded “extremist” – for views shared by millions.Chancellor Friedrich Merz humiliated in a failed vote, forced into a fragile coalition with the SPD.The government’s desperate attempt to win back voters by pivoting on migration – while still refusing to engage with dissent.Far from defending democracy, Germany’s political class is dismantling it – using bans, surveillance, and court cases instead of arguments. Watch, subscribe, and leave a comment.
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Can Germany Still Call Itself a Democracy?
What happens when Europe’s ruling class can’t defeat their opponents at the ballot box?In this week’s MCC Brussels podcast we begin in Germany, where the intelligence services have officially branded the AFD as "extremist" – just as a new coalition government struggles to form under Friedrich Merz. Is this militant democracy or just democracy in name only?Next, we turn to Romania, where right-wing candidate George Simion has surged to victory in the presidential election's first round –just months after the previous vote was annulled. The establishment is panicking. Is Romania becoming Brussels' next problem child?And finally, we land in Hungary, where the European Commission is once again attacking Hungary’s immigration policy. Why? Because Budapest won’t keep convicted people-smugglers on its soil. It’s another case of EU overreach – and an attack on national sovereignty.Join guests Frank Furedi, Executive Director of MCC Brussels, and Richard Schenk, Research Fellow, and host Jacob Reynolds to unpack an explosive set of developments across the continent.🔔 Subscribe for more weekly deep dives into the most urgent political issues in Europe.👇 Let us know in the comments: Should the EU be able to ban political parties it doesn’t like?Follow MCC Brussels on social media:https://twitter.com/MCC_Brusselshttps://facebook.com/MCCBrusselshttps://linkedin.com/company/mcc-brussels/website:https://brussels.mcc.hu0:00 – Welcome & Europe in Crisis: Germany, Romania, Hungary0:46 – Germany Declares AfD "Extremist"2:59 – Ethno-Cultural Identity Debate4:04 – Militant Democracy & Thought Policing6:08 – Politicisation of Intelligence in Germany9:03 – Merz’s Chancellorship Collapses16:54 – Romania: Simeon Surges After Rigged Election24:50 – Hungary vs Brussels: Smugglers & Sovereignty28:35 – What Europe’s Political Chaos Means
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Deep Dives: Euthanasia in Europe: Compassion or Cause for Concern?
Join John O’Brien, Head of Communications, and Ashley Frawley, Visiting Research Fellow at MCC Brussels, in this eye-opening episode of Deep Dives. Together, they explore the complex and controversial topic of euthanasia through the lens of a groundbreaking report by MCC Brussels.In this thought-provoking discussion, they tackle critical questions: Does legalising euthanasia truly empower individuals—or the state? How do euphemisms like "death with dignity" shape public opinion and obscure deeper ethical concerns? What are the implications of normalising euthanasia, from strict safeguards to its expanding scope?Learn about the cross-national tactics driving euthanasia laws across Europe and how these policies may erode the value of life as a democratic cornerstone. Discover the risks of harmonising euthanasia legislation within the EU and its potential clash with local ethical and cultural values. Tell us what you think about this insightful conversation that challenges conventional narratives and explores the profound societal shifts tied to this critical issue.
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No cards? The EU is not even in the game | MCC Brussels Podcast
From Trump and Zelensky’s headline-grabbing encounter at the Pope’s funeral to a massive power outage plunging Spain into darkness, this episode dives into the mounting signs of European decline. We explore how culture wars, green dogma, and bureaucratic drift are reshaping Europe — and leaving its citizens in the dark.🇻🇦 Papal Funeral DiplomacyWe open with the surreal spectacle of global power players using the Pope’s funeral as a geopolitical summit. Jacob Reynolds and Frank Furedi unpack what it tells us about Europe's absence from global affairs — and Jorge Buxadé explains how even the Catholic Church is now entangled in the culture wars.⚡️ Spain’s Blackout & Energy CrisisNext, we dive into the devastating power outage that swept across Spain, Portugal, and southern France. Jorge Buxadé holds nothing back: Sánchez must go. Frank Furedi explains how the EU’s renewable fetish and centralised energy policy have made national governments powerless — literally.🌊 The EPP Circus in ValenciaFinally, we dissect the European People's Party conference in flood-stricken Valencia. As Jorge puts it, it’s not just the weather that’s a disaster — it's the fact the EPP still pretends to be “centre-right” while enforcing the same failed policies as the left. Frank Furedi calls them what they are: technocrats cut off from the nations they supposedly represent.🎙 Featuring: – Jorge Buxadé, MEP and member of the Vox party– Frank Furedi, Executive Director, MCC Brussels– Jacob Reynolds, Head of Policy, MCC Brussels
Discussions, event recordings, and updates from the team at MCC Brussels – the home for genuine policy deliberation about the EU and an in-depth exploration of the key issues facing Europeans.
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