Ep 174: Team Macron turmoil — Minimum wage push — OECD contenders

Trouble in French President Emmanuel Macron's inner circle, the European Commission's move to boost minimum wages, and the battle to lead the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development all feature in this episode.

POLITICO's Rym Momtaz gives us the inside scoop from the halls of the Elysée Palace, where top foreign policy advisers face accusations of fostering a hostile and dysfunctional work environment — allegations they flatly deny. Read Rym's full story here. And Matthew Karnitschnig explains why a speech by German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer is being read as a big reality check on transatlantic relations.

We hear the pitches of two candidates vying to become the next secretary-general of the OECD. POLITICO's David Herszenhorn spoke with Sweden's candidate, former EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, and Australia's Finance Minister Mathias Cormann.

And this week, the European Commission proposed a law to bolster minimum wages around the bloc. It's a plan hailed by some as vital, while others say it will hurt workers in their countries or industries. POLITICO's Paola Tamma explains the plan and the concerns, checking in with Jobs Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and other key players with a stake in this debate.

We also call out one of our big rivals in the European political podcasting game — a certain Angela Merkel — and offer some helpful suggestions on how she could mix things up a bit.

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