Economist Podcasts We’ll be right over here: Europe’s populists sour on Trump
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Jan 28, 2026 European populist-right leaders are rethinking their warmth toward Trump after his moves on sovereignty. MAGA networks and transatlantic ties are examined alongside fractures within parties. In India, Western dating apps failed and local startups adapted to culture and monetization limits. Jungle science reveals predators clustering at salt and mineral-rich sites captured on camera traps.
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Populists Pull Back From Trump
- Europe's populist-right parties initially welcomed MAGA-style ties but now fear Trump's interventions undermine their 'sovereignty' messaging.
- Sophie Pedder explains that brazen US actions (Greenland, Venezuela) create a political liability for European populists.
Sovereignty Splits Transatlantic Allies
- The core clash is over sovereignty: Europe-first populists reject foreign interference even from an allied America's MAGA movement.
- Strong US moves risk alienating conservative voters who prefer national autonomy, says Sophie Pedder.
Early MAGA Visits To European Populists
- Sophie Pedder recounts Charles Kushner hosting Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella soon after becoming US ambassador to France.
- That visit exemplifies early cozy ties between MAGA figures and European populists.