Max and Donatienne discuss the recent Czech parliamentary election in which billionaire businessman and former prime minister Andrej Babis and his ANO party roared to a victory (01:00). They also cover last week’s informal European Council summit in Copenhagen, where leaders met to discuss how to bolster the continent’s security (07:33). Finally, they turn to a conversation with Ben McWilliams, affiliate fellow in the field of energy and climate policy with Bruegel, to discuss the European Union’s energy and climate agenda (15:47). 

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Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts

How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America

Max and Donatienne answer listener questions (0:44) before talking with Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director and columnist at Le Monde, about France’s political turmoil (22:40). 

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Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

Max and Donatienne are back from summer vacation with a preview of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address to European Parliament this week. Then, Sander Tordoir and Federico Steinberg came back on The Eurofile to break down the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, the latest moves in EU trade, and what progress has been made in the past year to implement the The Draghi Report.

Sander Tordoir is Chief Economist at the Centre for European Reform Senior Associate (non-resident) with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program. Federico Steinberg is a Visiting Fellow with the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Prince of Asturias Distinguished Visiting Professor at Georgetown University.

Note: this episode was recorded on September 5, 2025.

We want to hear from YOU on The Eurofile! Please submit your questions or feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠ with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line. Or, find us on social media:

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⁠Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts⁠

In a special crossover episode with CSIS’s State of Play, Max Bergmann joins Will Todman and Victor Cha to discuss what East Asian and European allies are learning about summits with President Trump and what patterns are emerging about how President Trump engages with autocrats.
Learn more:
⁠State of Play | CSIS Podcasts⁠
Statesmen’s Forum: His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea | CSIS
⁠⁠Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits⁠⁠ | CSIS Russian Roulette

Max sat down with Matthew Kaminski—co-founder of Politico Europe, former editor-in-chief and former editor-at-large of Politico—to discuss the ethos of Politico Europe, why it’s been successful, and how it fits into the political journalism landscape in Brussels.

Please submit your questions or feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠ with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line. 

Learn more:  

⁠Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts⁠

Max and Donatienne talk to David Leonhardt, Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and editorial director for The New York Times, about the politics of migration in Europe and the United States.  

Please submit your questions or feedback to [email protected] with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line. 

Learn more:  

Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

In an Age of Right-Wing Populism, Why Are Denmark’s Liberals Winning? 

Max and Donatienne discuss last week’s EU-US trade deal announcement, where European allies agreed to a 15 percent tariff rate on most U.S. imports. Max talks with Lykke Friis, director of the Copenhagen-based think tank Europa, about Denmark’s presidency of the European Union.

Please submit your questions or feedback to [email protected] with “Eurofile Listener Feedback” in the subject line.

Learn more:  

Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

Heart of the matter: How Denmark’s focus on Ukraine and enlargement will define its EU presidency

Max and Otto discuss President Trump’s latest tariff threats and the timid European response. Max talks to Noah Barkin, Senior Advisor with Rhodium Group's China practice, to preview next week’s EU-China summit.

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Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

Watching China in Europe—July 2025 

Max and Otto discuss last week’s NATO summit in The Hague, where European allies signed up to a massive new spending pledge. Donatienne talks with Sarah Hall, 1931 Professor of Geography and Fellow of St John’s College, Cambridge University and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe, about the state of the UK economy and Labour’s economic agenda. 

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Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

NATO’s “Brain Death” in The Hague

Max and Donatienne discuss this week’s G7 Summit in Canada and the latest round of EU sanctions against Russia. Then, they turn to a conversation with Dr. Daniel Fiott, Head of the Defence and Statecraft Programme at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) of the Brussels School of Governance (BSoG), to discuss the state of European defense and Europe’s rearmament. 

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Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts 

How the European Union and Germany Can Leverage Their Monetary Power