MCC Brussels Podcast

The EU is quietly funnelling billions into so-called non-governmental organisations.

These “independent” NGOs are anything but. They’re propped up by Brussels, pushing its agenda, shaping public opinion, and drowning out dissenting voices. It’s propaganda—paid for with your money.

In this episode of Deep Dives, we sit down with Thomas Fazi, talking about his report exposing the EU’s shadowy NGO network. He lays out how Brussels bankrolls groups that parrot its talking points, suppresses real civil society, and even lobbies itself to demand the policies it already wants.

Read the MCC Brussels report to uncover the staggering scale of the EU’s taxpayer-funded propaganda machine

📖 Read the full report here 👉 https://brussels.mcc.hu/publication/the-eus-propaganda-machine-how-the-eu-funds-ngos-to-promote-itself

Germany has voted — but the German establishment is in crisis. 

The CDU claims victory, but at what cost? The AfD surges despite media attacks. The left collapses, and young voters are shifting against the status quo.

🔹 The Firewall is Cracking – Can the AfD be shut out forever?
🔹 CDU’s Gamble – Is Merz serious about migration, or is it all just talk?
🔹 Economic Freefall – Germany’s industry is in decline—who will stop it?
🔹 Censorship & Free Speech – The growing crackdown on political dissent.

Joining Jacob Reynolds for this special edition recorded live in Brussels are Alexander Jungbluth MEP (AfD, ESN) Sabine Beppler-Spahl (Freiblickinstitut), and Frank Furedi (MCC Brussels' executive director). Join us as we unpack the real story of this election.

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This week, joining Jacob Reynolds are MCC Brussels' executive director Frank Furedi, and Zsófia Tóth-Bíró from The European Conservative

We break down the key issues shaping global politics.we explore how Trump’s vision for a new world order could reshape Europe—and what it means for the U.S. as well. Is Trump fashioning a whole new vision for global geopolitics, or does his cavalier attitude risk spiralling out of control? We also discuss JD Vance’s history-making speech, where the US Vice President shocked EU elites by questioning their approach to democracy, to free speech, and to immigration. Was his insistence that the real enemy for European societies is “within” a necessary wake up call, or needless provocation? Finally, we take a look at the the EU’s incredible NGO propaganda complex. This vast corruption of civil society by EU cash calls for an EU DOGE to take it apart. 

Remember to hit like, subscribe to the channel, leave us a comment, and share with your friends and colleagues. The time for major change in Europe has come!

The Patriots for Europe, the European Parliament’s third-largest voting bloc, gathered in Madrid under the slogan “Make Europe Great Again”—a bold endorsement of Donald Trump’s return. As Brussels clings to its failing agenda, patriotic forces are rising, demanding a Europe that puts its people first.

Meanwhile in Europe the Green Deal seems to be coming apart. Facing backlash, Brussels is floating proposals to include industry in its grand environmental vision—but is that really a shift, or just another illusion? While businesses demand growth and energy security, the EU clings to its ideological commitments, prioritising bureaucratic control over economic survival.

And now, America is pulling ahead in AI innovation while the EU strangles its own tech sector. At the Paris AI Summit, JD Vance warned that the US will continue shaping global AI governance for its own benefit—unless the EU scraps its suffocating regulations. While Washington backs progress, Brussels is blocking the future.

Jacob Reynolds is joined by Pieter Cleppe, Editor-in-Chief of BrusselsReport.EU, and Tamás Orbán from The European Conservative.Com to break down the EU's attempt to re-brand the Green Deal, AI overregulation, and the growing nationalist resistance against Brussels’ control.

A massive lobbying scandal reveals how the EU funds NGOs to manipulate policy and control public debate—your tax money, repurposed for propaganda. Meanwhile, Trump's impending tariffs are a wrecking ball aimed at Europe’s fragile economy and crumbling political elite. As Brussels scrambles to maintain its illusion of unity, national interests are starting to tear the EU apart. 

Jacob Reynolds is joined by Virginie Joron MEP (Rassemblement National, Patriots for Europe) and Frank Furedi to break down the brewing economic war, the EU’s leadership vacuum, and the media's complicity in maintaining the status quo. France is stuck in political paralysis, Brussels is bankrolling activist networks to push its Green Deal, and the mainstream press is conveniently silent.The EU’s "Democratic Shield"? More like a censorship fortress. 

The only thing growing in Europe isn’t industry—it’s regulation. This is the scandal they don’t want you to hear. Watch, share, and make noise.

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📢 Comment below: Is the EU heading for collapse?

We welcome MEP Anders Vistisen and MCC Brussels' Richard Schenk to digest a chaotic week in Germany, Trump's threats about Greenland, and the EU's half-hearted conversion to rolling back green policies.

Germany’s political status quo just shattered. On Friday, the CDU and CSU (Die Union) brought a migration control bill to the Bundestag—fully aware it would pass with AfD support. Once the pilar of Merkel’s centrist rule, the CDU has now crossed a once-sacred line. The measure itself is nonbinding, but the Bundestag vote marks a symbolic rupture. For years, Germany’s mainstream parties swore they’d never touch the populist right. That vow now lies in tatters. Has the “firewall” against AfD just crumbled?

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Trump seems dead serious about Greenland. Denmark is scrambling, EU leaders are panicking, and the White House sees Arctic dominance as a matter of national security. Could the U.S. really strongarm its way into controlling Europe’s largest island? What does this show about Europe’s sleepwalking attitude to defence?

Brussels is at it again. Enter the “competitive compass,”  a grandiose scheme to try and make the Green Deal sound like a coherent idea without actually changing anything. The EU’s strategy is tragically transparent. Slap a fresh label on the same old anti-growth policies and hope no one notices. Is this just more bureaucratic smoke and mirrors from the architects of Europe’s economic malaise?

Trump’s has returned triumphantly to power, with a vision for a bold new era for America. In contrast, Europe's failing elites huddled together in Davos. But the EU is ready with its response to Trump: a revamped censorship machine. 

The first act of the EU has been to revamp the hated Digital Services Act, promising a new "democracy shield" to "protect" EU citizens from views the elites disagree with. But more broadly, they seem set on a host of anti-growth measures. 

The attack on freedom and growth, and the reign of environmental policies, is epitomised by their deliberate destruction of the car industry—targeting the mobility and autonomy the automobile symbolises.

While Trump’s vision signals prosperity, freedom, and renewal, Europe doubles down on policies that stifle innovation and crush economic potential. As America reclaims its pioneering spirit, Europe seems content with stagnation and control. Will Europe rise to meet the challenge of America’s resurgence, or will it remain mired in its elite-driven malaise? The stakes couldn’t be higher.

Jacob Reynolds is joined by Mick Hume, editor of EuropeanConservative.com and Agnieszka Kolek, MCC Brussels' head of cultural engagement.

Todays's museums have abandoned artifacts to focus on activism.

The traditional museum, once the unwavering guardian of cultural treasures, is now unraveling as its purpose shifts—from exhibiting objects to shaping citizens.

John O’Brien sits down with Katalin Deme, Senior Research fellow at MCC Brussels, for a deep dive into her report, “A Museums Renaissance: In defense of a traditional role”.

This conversation explores the shift from the ancient Greek concept of the mouseion—a seat of the muses and scholarly pursuit—towards the modern "activist museum," which aims to “foster diversity and sustainability.”While some celebrate this evolution as a progressive embrace of social justice and ethical values, critics argue that the politicisation of museums compromises their core mission: to preserve and interpret the past. Has the focus on activism and contemporary ethics overshadowed the museum's role as a repository of knowledge and culture?

This week, we dive into the potential fallout of a second Trump presidency on transatlantic relations, examining how it could reshape NATO dynamics, trade agreements, and diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Europe. The growing influence of Elon Musk in European politics takes center stage as we explore how his ventures, rhetoric, and reach are shaping policy debates, particularly around energy, tech, and social media regulation. Additionally, we assess the economic consequences of Europe’s self-inflicted stagnation, from its energy policies to its regulatory burden, and what this means for its competitiveness on the global stage. 

Finally, we turn to Austria’s shifting political landscape, analysing the recent successes of the populist FPÖ and what that tells us about the mood in Europe. We’ll also dissect the fraying of the EU's cordon sanitaire, as populist and far-right parties gain ground and challenge the political status quo.

Our panel includes András László MEP (Patriots for Europe, Fidesz), Hubert Wetzel (Brussels correspondent for Süddeutsche Zeitung), and hosted by Jacob Reynolds, Head of Policy at MCC Brussels.

Join us for a recap of 2024’s political shockwaves. 
From the farmers’ protests to the surge of the nonconformist right in the European Parliament elections, to Trump’s return and the reshaping of Europe’s political order – 2024 was one for the books.

Giorgia Meloni emerges as Europe’s rising star, Hungary shakes up the EU and the once-unshakeable cordon sanitaire begins to fray. Plus, our festive “Naughty and Nice” list highlights the key figures who defined the year.

The disastrous Scholz government has collapsed, leaving Germany reeling in the wake of its failed green utopia and chaotic migration policies. Once the engine of Europe, Germany is now a crucible of political failure and economic decline. In this MCC podcast, we delve into the intricate story of how Scholz’s coalition unravelled, exposing a labyrinth of incompetence, short-sighted energy fantasies, and policies that beckon crisis instead of solutions.

With insights from Professor Werner J. Patzelt, economist Prof. Dr. Thomas Mayer, Richard Schnek, and Professor Frank Füredi, we uncover why this isn’t just the end of Scholz – it’s the start of Germany’s most profound reckoning. The political tapestry is torn, the economy teeters, and the question remains: can Germany reimagine itself, or is this the beginning of its downfall?

Two seismic events have rocked European politics. In Romania, the shocking decision to CANCEL the presidential election sent shockwaves across the continent, revealing the anti-Democratic impulses of European elites for all to see. Meanwhile, Michel Barnier's government in France collapsed, throwing not just Emmanuel Macron but the entire fifth republic into crisis. 

Behind both of these events lie a broad crisis of democracy in Europe. Join Frank Furedi and Jacob Reynolds in this week's episode of the MCC Brussels podcast. We dig into France, Romania and the crisis of democracy in Europe.

Jacob Reynolds is joined by Patricia Santos, Brussels Editor-in-Chief of El Debate, and MCC Brussels' research fellow Richard Schenk to take a look at the surprise victory of "TikTok candidate" Calin Georgescu in Romania, possible revisions to the Green Deal, and how the EU loves celebrating "international days", this time about violence against women.

Joining us today is MEP Tom Vandendriessche as we talk about how Hungary is locking horns with the EU over migration rules and anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

We talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine.  How the farmers’ protests are gaining momentum across the continent, and why Antifa remains a constant headache for Vlaams Belang in Belgium.

Shocking scenes played out in Amsterdam with the apparent hunting down of Jews in the city's streets following a football game. Tensions have risen in France also surrounding a national game between the French and the Israelis. Far from being an incidence of simple hooliganism, this seems to represent a dark strain of Islamism that been allowed to take root in European cities. 

At the same time, Germany's government has collapsed, with new elections in the New Year. This follows months of unresolved tensions and a spiralling economic crisis in "Europe's economic powerhouse". What has caused the issues? What can we expect?

The podcast also digs into the reaction of European leaders to Trump's win, as well as a reflection on the circus surrounding the hearings of the new EU Commissioners taking place in the EU Parliament. 

With Jacob Reynolds, head of policy at MCC Brussels, Pieter Cleppe, editor in chief of Brussels Report, and Richard Schenk, MCC Brussels' research fellow.

Trump has surprised the world and shocked elites across the West. He's promised a new golden age for America - his opponents cry hysterically that it's a turn to fascism.

But the remarkable victory showed Trump's ability to reach out to ordinary people, and new voters like Hispanics and African-Americans, going beyond the narrow identity-politics categories of gender, skin colour, ethnicity or geography. 

In fact, the success of the MAGA movement is also a clear act of defiance against the rule of elitism propagated by American elites who viewed with disdain the desires and lives of average American citizens for years. 

What lessons does Europe need to learn from the election of Trump? How did Trump assemble such a remarkable coalition? What does Trump's populist election mean for Europe and the world? 

Join us for this live edition of the MCC Brussels podcast hosted by John O'Brien, featuring guests: 
•⁠  ⁠Patrick Egan, publisher & CEO for BrusselsSignal.eu
•⁠  ⁠Dr. Richard Johnson, senior lecturer at Queen Mary, University of London
•⁠  ⁠Craig Willy, French-American political writer and consultant

To watch the rest of the event including questions and comments from the audience, head to our live stream page here: https://youtube.com/live/GnnO23C52-o?feature=share

Under pressure from populists across the continent, EU elites seem to be changing their tune slightly on migration. Or are they? This week, we dig into the controversy around Polish PM Donald Tusk's suspension of asylum and a court decision that has thrown Italy's immigration plans into turmoil.

The team also discuss what Moldova's referendum to join the EU says about European geopolitics, new proposals to hand more power to the European Parliament, and the involvement of the European Commission in a Berlin "Adult Entertainment" festival, 

This week's podcast ends with a tribute to the heroes of Hungary's 1956 Revolution.

Jacob Reynolds is joined by Frank Furedi, MCC Brussels' executive director, and Anna Hegedűs, EU Policy Researcher at MCC Brussels.

In this episode of Deep Dives, John O'Brien sits down with Dr. Göran Adamson to discuss MCC Brussels' latest report: Multiculturalism in Flames: Sweden's rude awakening. 

The conversation takes a look at how mass migration has fundamentally transformed Swedish society. From crime to political freedom, and social cohesion to corruption, a toxic combination of state policies of multiculturalism and extreme levels of migration have caused serious issues in Sweden. 

Join us as we examine Sweden’s current migration and integration policies and explore bold alternatives to restore social cohesion.


Dr. Göran Adamson is an associate Professor of Sociology with a PhD from the London School of Economics

 
Link to read full report 
https://brussels.mcc.hu/publication/multiculturalism-in-flames-swedens-rude-awakening

The European Parliament was witness to a truly remarkable scene this week. Ursula von Der Leyen launched an unprecedented attack on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as Orbán was supposed to be outlining the themes of the Hungarian Presidency of the European Council. In a show of her imperial ambitions, Queen Ursula led an incredible attempt not just to undermine Orbán, but humiliate the Hungarian people. 

One or Orbán's themes for the Presidency was supposed to be competitiveness, and no-where is that more needed than in Germany, where the economic situation is getting increasingly dire. The team asks what went wrong for Europe's industrial powerhouse. 

And finally we examine an incredible ruling from the European Court of Justice, which has now mandated automatic recognition of transgender individuals who change sex on their official documentation. 

Jacob Reynolds, head of policy for MCC Brussels, is joined by Zsófia Tóth-Bíró, head of office for the European Conservative, and Philipp Siegert, MCC Brussels' deputy head of research.

The events of October 7 last year should have shocked the world. A barbaric attack on Jews, carried out by Hamas terrorists and other Islamist militants, resulted in perhaps the worst act of Jew-killing since the Holocaust.
 
Yet in the days, weeks, and months after that fateful day, we have witnessed a shocking series of equivocations, denials and outright apology for the unprecedented violence of Hamas militants. On top of this, as Israel has sought to destroy the terrorists who killed, butchered and raped Jews, seemingly for fun, a network of politicians, NGOs and identity groups have mounted an unrelenting campaign against the Jewish state. The accusations, libels, and double-standards heaped on Israel have sought to delegitimise any action Israel has taken to defend itself.
 
But perhaps most shocking of all has been the resurgence of anti-Semitism in Western societies. Attacks on Jews have intensified, protests celebrating Hamas’ became a fixture of many capital cities, and a casual attitude of anti-Semitism has become ingrained in many conversations around Israel and Jews more broadly.
 
MCC Brussels believes that this resurgent anti-Semitism, and the widespread attacks on the legitimacy of Israel as a state, represent one of the gravest anti-Civilisational threats facing European society.
 
To mark the occasion of the anniversary of October 7, we convened a special episode of the MCC Brussels Podcast to take stock of a shocking year. The podcast opens with a powerful intervention by MCC Brussels’ executive director Frank Furedi, who takes to task those in influential positions in European society who have excused the actions of October 7. Then, Jacob Reynolds, our head of policy, leads a discussion with Mark Birbeck, co-founder of Our Fight, a campaign in support of Israel and against anti-Semitism, and Tamir Wertzberger, foreign affairs director of Action and Protection League, a European NGO combatting anti-Semitism.
 
Please take the time to like and share this podcast to demonstrate that you too stand against anti-Semitism in all its forms.