

MCC Brussels Podcast
MCC Brussels
Discussions, event recordings, and updates from the team at MCC Brussels – the home for genuine policy deliberation about the EU and an in-depth exploration of the key issues facing Europeans.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 19, 2024 • 35min
Deep Dives: Frank Füredi on Why We're Being Made to Feel Guilty About Our Past
In this episode of Deep Dives, Jacob Reynolds talks to Frank Füredi about his latest book "The War Against the Past".His book aims to shed light on the systematic attempt to delegitimise the ideals and accomplishments of Western civilisation. Its advocates may see it as a cultural imperative, but a society that loses touch with its past will face a permanent identity crisis. Dismantling the wisdom our historical inheritance provides means betraying humanity’s positive achievements. Challenging this great betrayal, Professor Füredi argues, is one of the most important battles of our time.

Aug 30, 2024 • 30min
Belgium's new troublemakers / Les nouveaux perturbateurs de Belgique [En Français & In English]
A special edition of the podcast - we've gone bilingual! Édition spéciale : notre podcast devient bilingue !We're joined by Jérôme Munier, founder of the populist party Chez Nous, a new party seeking to shake things up in Wallonia. In this episode, we interview with Jérôme in French about his experience setting up the party, and then reflect (in English) on why Belgium needs a challenge to the woke orthodoxy and how the Belgian political establishment are stifling free speech.Nous accueillons Jérôme Munier, fondateur du parti populiste Chez Nous, un nouveau parti qui cherche à bouleverser la donne en Wallonie. Dans cet épisode, nous nous entretenons avec Jérôme en français sur son expérience de la création du parti, puis nous réfléchissons (en anglais) sur les raisons pour lesquelles la Belgique a besoin d'une remise en question de l'orthodoxie woke et sur la manière dont l'establishment politique belge étouffe la liberté d'expression.For the version with subtitles for both languages, please check out our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/v--aKTuWBds

Aug 6, 2024 • 24min
Deep Dives: The rise of Comprehensive Sexuality Education
In this special episode - live from MCC Feszt in Esztergom, Hungary - we talk to Joanna Williams about her new report 'Sexualising Children? The rise of Comprehensive Sexuality Education'.Joanna explains how a new paradigm has taken hold in schools - a radical new idea of how to teach sex education. This approach (Comprehensive Sexuality Education, CSE) obsesses with promoting the idea that children are sexual beings and that their sexual pleasure is paramountAs we learn, CSE is designed to be an intrusive moral crusade that invades children's lives. The lessons are designed to manipulate children's attitudes and values in their most private matters. We discuss how elites bypass parents to force social change down everyone's throats.Read the full report – https://brussels.mcc.hu/publication/sexualising-children-the-rise-of-comprehensive-sexuality-education

Jul 17, 2024 • 30min
Deep Dives: The Silent War on Farming
In this episode of Deep Dives John O'Brien talks to Richard J Schenk, Research Fellow at MCC Brussels, about his report 'The Silent War on Farming - How EU policies are destroying our agriculture’. The report explains how, under the guise of environmental concerns, European regulation has slowly squeezed farmers – especially livestock farmers – to breaking point. The report examines the transformation of European agricultural policy into a tool of environmental policy as farms disappear across the EU. Links: Read the full report – The Silent War and Farminghttps://brussels.mcc.hu/uploads/defau... Watch the short film of The Silent War On Farming, that exposes how environmental extremism is killing small farmers, featuring Daisy and Gunter Klaasen, poultry farmers, Turnhouts Vennengebied region. • The Silent War on Farming: how Europe... Watch the interview and Deep Dives with Thomas Fazi about EU Farming and the End of Food Sovereignty • Deep Dives: EU Farming and the End of...

Jul 3, 2024 • 26min
The last gasp of the establishment?
The election in France has become a desperate scramble by the establishment to keep out the Rassemblement National. But the cordon sanitaire no longer works. We also ask: As Hungary assumes the EU presidency, what can we anticipate from Viktor Orbán, and what do the UK elections hold? We end by asking why have the European Championship games been so dull?Joining Jacob Reynolds are:Professor Frank Füredi, Executive Director MCC BrusselsRichard Schenk, Research Fellow

Jun 25, 2024 • 38min
In France, is democracy on the line?
The rise of the populist National Rally has EU technocrats in an uproar and they are trying everything to stifle popular anger. The team delve into why this election is so pivotal for France - and for Europe. Then, we turn our attention to the "Green Coup" in the EU council which forced through the controversial Nature Restoration Act. We finish with a discussion of the emerging shape of political groups in the new European Parliament.Joining Jacob Reynolds are:Professor Frank Füredi, Executive Director MCC BrusselsPhilipp Siegert, Deputy Research DirectorRichard Schenk, Research Fellow

Jun 11, 2024 • 39min
EU elections: A right wing earthquake? (live podcast)
A special live edition of the podcast where MCC Brussels, friends, and commentators digest the results of the European Parliament elections in a relaxed but intellectually serious environment. When the Brussels Bubble seems so distant from the concerns of ordinary Europeans, our analysis of the election will go beyond the traditional obsessions of the "bubble" and shift from focusing on political group machinations to examining what truly matters in individual nation states.Our speakers include Frank Furedi, Executive Director of MCC BrusselsRichard Schenk, Research Fellow at MCC BrusselsEllen Kryger Fantini, Managing Editor of European Conservative Scarlett Karoleva from Riks Europe TV.

Jun 6, 2024 • 42min
Deep Dives: EU Farming and the End of Food Sovereignty
In this episode of Deep Dives John O'Brian talks to Thomas Fazi about his MCC Brussels report 'Reclaiming Food Sovereignty: An alternative approach to trade and agriculture'. The report explains how EU policies have systematically hindered food production in Europe and argues for a renewed focus on food security.Massive farmers' protests have swept across European countries, largely opposing the European Union’s climate and environmental regulations as manifest in the Green Deal. These policies threaten small and mid-sized farms without providing significant climate benefits. The public needs to understand the broader context: small and mid-sized farmers have long struggled with rising costs, over-regulation, unfair competition, and corporate practices. Farms are disappearing rapidly across the EU.

May 29, 2024 • 34min
Inside the EU Censorship Machine
Welcome to Deep Dives, a new addition to the MCC Brussels podcast family.In Deep Dives, we let MCC Brussels' esteemed researchers explain in detail their groundbreaking reports, thoughtfully exploring the insights and implications of their work.In our first episode, join MCC Brussels' Jacob Reynolds for an eye-opening interview with Dr. Norman Lewis, author of a groundbreaking report on the EU's approach to online speech. 📚✨A deep dive into the package of laws, regulations, and agreements between EU institutions and Big Tech, aimed at controlling what 448 million Europeans can say online. The EU claims this is to protect democracy from hate speech and misinformation. But is that the whole story?Key points: - The EU's restrictive measures might reflect an anti-democratic stance towards its citizens.- Are European citizens being protected from hate speech or silenced by elite prejudices?- The upcoming European Parliament elections could see a surge in national parties opposing centralised EU control.- The expanding censorship system is set to stifle open debate and challenge to EU orthodoxy.👉 Report available here: https://brussels.mcc.hu/uploads/default/0001/01/05d8121ef5fe2c17a560ae2d3a52d8f1378ca301.pdf

May 21, 2024 • 34min
The Price of Freedom
Free speech is in big trouble in Europe. In this episode Head of Policy Jacob Reynolds, MCC Brussels Chief of Staff Tony Gilland and Policy Analyst Bence Szabó talk about what happened at NatCon and why MCC Brussels is launching the Free Speech Declaration. Jacob is also joined by Head of Cultural Engagement Agnieszka Kolek to talk about the real reason why the EU has dropped the rule-of-law proceedings against Poland. And finally Jacob, Bence and Senior Research Fellow Maren Thom talk about how the political circus around this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö is part of a greater debate between EU elites and the general population.