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More than halfway through Donald Tusk’s term, Poland is entering a crucial political moment. The governing coalition is under pressure to deliver on its promises while navigating institutional gridlock, deep political polarization, and a rapidly changing international security environment.

In this week’s Talk Eastern Europe interview, Adam Reichardt speaks with journalist, writer, and sociologist Mateusz Mazzini about where Polish politics stand today and what may come next.

They discuss the Tusk government’s record so far, why security and foreign policy now dominate domestic politics, President Karol Nawrocki’s veto of the EU SAFE defence financing mechanism, Poland’s evolving relationship with the United States under Donald Trump, and the rise of the right and far right ahead of the 2027 parliamentary elections. This is a wide-ranging conversation on power, sovereignty, defence, and the political choices that may shape Poland’s future.

Guest: Mateusz Mazzini is a Polish journalist, writer, and sociologist. He writes for Gazeta Wyborcza and Polityka, and has published in The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and New Eastern Europe.