An energy shock that once felt distant is starting to look very real as the war in Iran spirals ... and the EU is considering a Covid-style crisis response.

From emergency meetings to talk of jointly purchasing energy — host Zoya Sheftalovich and Senior EU Politics Editor Ian Wishart explain how some of the strategies being floated are straight out of the pandemic-era playbook.

Also on the pod, Péter Magyar is ahead in the polls in the lead-up to the Hungarian general election, but it’s by no means a slam dunk. According to some experts, years of gerrymandering and media capture by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party mean the opposition leader still faces an uphill challenge.

Finally, if you’re looking to buy a ticket to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you might be disappointed: Prices are soaring. In fact, MEPs have asked the Commission to look into FIFA’s opaque ticket-sale tactics.

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