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In this week's episode we talk about growing protests over the deportation from Sweden of foreign workers and whether people taking to the streets is likely to have any impact on government policy.

We also look at how Sweden is reacting to the capture of Venezuela’s president in a US military operation as well as US President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for his country to take control of Greenland.

For Membership+ subscribers we highlight new laws that will impact our lives in Sweden in 2026, and we examine the state of play for the political parties at the start of election year.

Finally we explain why Swedes traditionally wait until 20 days after Christmas before throwing out their Christmas trees.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. The episode also features an excerpts from interviews with the Centre Party's immigration policy spokesperson Niels Paarup-Petersen and Stockholm University politics professor Jan Teorell. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• 'Sweden is my children's country': Health professionals ordered to leave after years of work
• Deportations spark pushback against Swedish migration reforms
• 'Let's not kick people out of Sweden who are already contributing'
• Sweden's government to submit new work permit law to parliament 'in a couple of weeks'

• 'We are free': Venezuelans in Sweden split on US attack

• LISTED: All the new laws coming into force in Sweden at the start of 2026

• Why Swedish Christmas lasts until January 13th
• How to dispose of your Christmas tree in Sweden

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