22 Jun

Ep. 11 - They Made an Enemy of Me, with Maria Mikaelyan

It is time for Budapest to move to Russia, with Maria Mikaelyan — architect, activist, and co-founder of the Community of Free Russians in Italy, and one of the voices challenging Vladimir Putin's regime from exile. We start from a straightforward question: can you fight an autocracy from abroad? For Maria, the answer came at a personal cost. Supporting Alexei Navalny's movement, opposing the war in Ukraine, and refusing to remain silent gradually transformed her from an ordinary citizen into an enemy of the state. As repression intensified, exile became not a choice but a necessity, also to protect her loved ones. Keeping in mind the price that individuals pay when authoritarianism turns disagreement into betrayal, we discussed the legacy of the Soviet Union and the resurgence of repression which turned the Russian Federation into a regime of police surveillance. This is the story of nostalgia for the enduring appeal of empire, which normalised the limitation of the basic rights affecting citizens' daily lives, let alone those of the soldiers sent to fight an unfair, useless war in Ukraine. Exhaustion is spreading, and economic pressures are mounting. As Maria recalls, the consensus that once appeared solid may be less stable than it seems. And sometimes, resistance begins simply by refusing to forget. In this episode: ∙ The loneliness of life in exile ∙ Why Navalny became the symbol of a generation ∙ The nostalgia for the Soviet Union and the myth of empire ∙ How Russia became a police state ∙ Pro-Putin narratives beyond Russia's borders ∙ Surveillance, fear, and everyday life inside the Federation ∙ Ukraine's right to sovereignty and self-determination ∙ Why understanding history matters more than ever With reason, not rage. Timestamps: 1:45 – Frontiers are flexible 3:50 – The Armenians no longer trust the Kremlin 8:00 – Navalny's legacy 12:00 – Russians did not have their 1968 15:00 – When protests became dangerous 17:45 – They made an enemy of me 21:20 – The nostalgia for the Soviet Union 25:00 – Moving within Russia: what you need to know 30:45 – The beginning of the police regime 35:00 – The solitude of living in exile 39:00 – The Ukrainian land belongs to Ukrainian people 45:00 – Even war supporters are exhausted 48:00 – The economic struggle is affecting consent 51:40 – Pro-Putin Italians can be nasty 56:55 – First of all, study history Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

59 min

6 Jun

Ep. 10 - Is Paris burning?, with Sandro Gozi

For this episode of Budapest, I am joined by Sandro Gozi, Member of the European Parliament for Renew Europe, Secretary General of the European Democratic Party, and President of the Union of European Federalists — and one of the most convinced and articulate Europeanists I know. We begin in Belgrade, where students have taken to the streets against Aleksandar Vučić's increasingly authoritarian rule. It shows how the line between liberal democracy and autocratic drift can be easily crossed when institutions are weakened and dissent is treated as a threat. And the reason why we cannot avert our gaze is that the European Union is not an exclusive club. From Serbia, the conversation moves to France, where political fragmentation, rising extremism and institutional tensions are reshaping the country's future. But the challenge is not only internal. Russia's threat to European security is real. Donald Trump's return has exposed Europe's strategic vulnerabilities. And when democracies allow those who reject democratic rules to exploit democratic institutions, they risk nurturing their own enemies. But democracy is not an eternal gift. It survives only if citizens are willing to defend it. With reason, not rage. In this episode: The Serbian student movement and the challenge to VučićThe Western Balkans, between European promises and autocratic driftIs Paris burning? Le Pen, Mélenchon and the fragmentation of the French RepublicThe boomerang effect: when democracy tolerates the intolerantEurope exposed: from Putin's threats to Trump's strategic blackmailLiaisons dangereuses: the unstable axis between Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia MeloniThe rights connected to European citizenshipThe importance of digital sovereignty Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction 1:50 – Look at Belgrade 3:20 – Serbia and the Balkans can make the difference for the EU 6:00 – The right as a European citizen that you did not know you had 12:10 – The reasons behind the French instability 20:00 – We already know the outcome of the French elections 27:25 – The Russian threat to our security is a matter of fact 29:30 – The boomerang effect: tolerating the intolerant 36:30 – The EU Commission is not standing up to the Trump administration 40:00 – Money, sovereignty and the need for an EU digital strategy 42:45 – Emmanuel and Giorgia: les liaisons dangereuses 48:25 – Democracy is not an eternal gift Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

50 min

23 May

Ep. 9 - There Is Always Someone to Your Right, with Cas Mudde

For this episode of Budapest, I am joined by Cas Mudde — distinguished research professor at the University of Georgia and one of the world's foremost scholars of the far right and populism, whose work spans European politics, the radical right, and the unexpected connection between soccer and politics. Budapest, as he reminds us, is not just a city: it is in ourselves. The line between liberal and illiberal democracy is not as sharp as we would like to believe — and that is precisely what makes it so dangerous. For decades, he argues, the Left misdiagnosed the far right, focusing on the actors rather than the policies. Meanwhile the far right radicalised, and the centre shifted to the right. From Germany's "militant democracy" to the health of US democracy, we trace the return of ideology within the three-dimensional politics of today. Because politics, as Mudde insists, is not just about solving problems — it is about deciding what counts as a problem in the first place. In this episode: How the left misdiagnosed the far rightThe surveillance stateGermany's militant democracyThe Biden lesson on accountabilityRural provinces and the geography of US politicsPlutocracy and the far right: a relationship we need to addressThe return of ideology in three-dimensional politicsMamdani, Sanders, and the class argumentWith reason, not rage. Timestamps 1:21 – Georgia is like Budapest 2:40 – We live in a surveillance state 4:45 – The example of the German "militant" democracy 8:40 – The left has misdiagnosed the far right 13:03 – Is the EU a happy island? 17:00 – Hungary is a unique case — and the Meloni model is spreading 19:15 – The far right doesn't moderate: it's the mainstream that radicalises 23:00 – There is always someone to your right 26:30 – Orbán accepted defeat. Trump did not. 35:00 – You need to be in the rural provinces to win US elections 38:50 – There is no single way out of the far right backlash 43:40 – Plutocracy and the far right: the relationship we need to address 47:00 – The class argument 50:00 – What is the centre in today's three-dimensional politics? 54:00 – We should not fear ideology 58:00 – Biden's lesson on accountability 1:05:00 – Have awkward conversations with people who are close to you Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

1hr 4min

9 May

Ep. 8 - The Age of Ju-Jitsu Politics, with Catherine Fieschi

Catherine Fieschi has spent years studying one of the defining political forces of our time: populism. Founder of Counterpoint, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, and fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, she is among the sharpest observers of how democracies are challenged from within. In this episode, we explore why populism should not be dismissed as anger, protest, or political style, but understood as a serious ideology built around majoritarianism, anti-elitism, and distrust of institutions. From the judiciary to the press, from elections to parliaments, Fieschi explains how populists reshape democratic systems while claiming to speak directly for "the people." At the centre of the conversation is what she calls "ju-jitsu politics": populists win because they turn democratic tools against democracy itself. They use freedom of the press and social media to sell compelling stories — and that is what we ought to learn to do too. The deeper challenge is a cultural one. And we can save democracy even by joining a choir. With reason, not rage. In this episode: Why populism is an ideology, not just a style The populist playbook and ju-jitsu politics Why populists tell better stories The limits of popular sovereignty What citizens — not just "the people" — can do Timestamps 1:15 Watch the French elections in 2027 2:45 Populism is an ideology, so take it seriously 5:45 Illiberal populists are nostalgic 8:00 The three steps in the populist playbook 9:50 What is ju-jitsu politics 12:15 The Parliament is not a TV show 15:45 The populists tell good stories 17:20 Mamdani's authenticity took it all 18:50 The limits of popular sovereignty 23:10 We are citizens, not just people 26:00 What is the way of life you really want? 29:30 The Netherlands as a laboratory 35:45 Populism is a self-fulfilling prophecy 38:00 The Conte 1 Government 41:00 Meloni has delivered nothing beyond stability 43:55 Trump is the ju-jitsu champion 47:00 "They stole my election" 49:20 Use your social media as a citizen 51:15 Build ties with those who are different from you / Join that choir! Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

54 min

25 Apr

Ep. 7 - The true cost of Brexit, with Greg Hands

Greg Hands has been involved in British politics and public life for over 30 years. He served as Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham from 2005 to 2024 and held several key government roles, including Minister for the Budget, Energy, and Trade, as well as Chairman of the Conservative Party. Brexit, he argues, definitively broke a taboo: a country as deeply tied to the European Union as the United Kingdom — in its legal frameworks, its trade, its daily life — chose to leave. And that choice came with a price. In this episode, Hands explains how the British people experienced the referendum, the real role played by Nigel Farage in the Leave campaign, and the consequences of that decision — not only economic, but above all political. And he leaves us with an uncomfortable question: even if we disagree with Brexit, would we be ready to rejoin the EU under today's circumstances? With reason, not rage. In this episode: Eastern Europe and the legacy of the WallBetween Conservatives and Labour: an overview of the British electoral systemBrexit and its legacyUK and EU: a future of cooperation?The Green Party and an overly broad coalition Timestamps 1:50 1986–2026: the Hungarian parable 4:30 Nationalism in Eastern Europe 7:30 Margaret Thatcher would have liked Brexit? 12:00 Brexit broke a taboo 15:30 Nigel Farage is superficially popular 19:00 Would the UK rejoin the EU? 23:00 How far Brexit can go 26:40 The legacy of Brexit on trade agreements 31:30 The political impact of the referendum 35:00 An insight into the British electoral system 41:20 The UK Green Party's coalition is perhaps too broad 47:00 Risks of polarization in the UK political spectrum 49:30 You may not like the alternative to liberal democracy Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

54 min

11 Apr

Ep. 6 - Democracy Is a System Not a Person, with Thomas Carothers

For the sixth episode of Budapest, I was joined by Thomas Carothers — senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and one of the world's leading scholars of democratic backsliding and democracy promotion. From the United States to Poland, autocracies don't rise by chance — they follow a playbook. Together with Thomas, we explore how that playbook deploys, how to recognise it before it's too late, and why a solid system of checks and balances remains democracy's most reliable defence. European democracies are under pressure too: from the economic fragility of the middle class, and from a failure to make the case for what immigration actually brings. Yet Carothers reminds us that democracy is an ongoing process — and there is always time to challenge our own way of thinking. In this episode: ∙ The pressures on Western democracies ∙ The legacy of Donald Trump's presidency on the US system ∙ Immigration and diversity: challenges or resources for democracies? ∙ How the autocratic playbook works With reason, not rage. Timestamps 1:05 – Elections in Hungary matter for the EU 4:40 – The turning point in American politics 10:00 – The legacy of Trump's presidency 16:00 – Building democracy is a cultural process 18:50 – Why the autocratic playbook spread 22:20 – The anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda 25:40 – Weaknesses in Western Europe 30:50 – All the reasons why we need immigration 33:40 – The Polish case and the role of the judiciary 37:30 – Democracy can always get back 41:00 – Get out of your bubble Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

43 min

28 Mar

Ep. 5 - Politics Is Emotion Not Just Fact, with Catherine De Vries

Catherine De Vries is Vice Dean and Professor of Political Science at IE University, where she specialises in far-right politics, populism, and European public opinion. De Vries brings a scholar's rigour and a rare gift for connecting theory to everyday life. The far right succeeds not by solving problems, but by being seen to take them seriously. Politics, she argues, is not only about facts — it is about emotion. If liberal democracy fails to recognise this, it will keep losing ground to forces that offer recognition over solutions. The conversation moves from the Netherlands — a country at the heart of the European Union — to the broader crisis of European legitimacy. De Vries argues that the EU has the potential to navigate the current international chaos, but only if it learns to reconnect with the citizens it has lost. In this episode: - The Dutch case and a very personal story - Why the far right wins - Immigration as a false problem - How the EU can survive in a hostile environment With reason, not rage. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:32 Budapest is everywhere — even in small cities 03:00 A personal story of resistance and anger 05:22 JD Vance sees the symptoms, not the cause 07:45 How the far right rose in the Netherlands 11:30 The state is not delivering for people — and it's not just about money 16:00 Is immigration really a far-right issue? 22:00 Politics is emotion, not just fact 24:00 What is the perception of the EU right now? 29:00 What effective sovereignty for member states means 32:35 How Europe can survive Euroscepticism 35:00 Donald Trump is hostile to the EU — and he is not the only one 42:30 The Green Deal's real impact 44:20 Healthy political debate can save democracy Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

48 min

14 Mar

Ep. 4 - The Georgian Dream Is a Nightmare, with Marika Mikiashvili

For the fourth episode of Budapest, I was joined by Marika Mikiashvili — lecturer at Alte University in Tbilisi, and Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Droa, part of the Coalition for Change, Georgia's largest democratic alliance. Georgia sits at a strategic crossroads in the South Caucasus — and its ruling party, Georgian Dream, has been steadily opening the door to Russian influence. How does a government build legitimacy on electoral fraud and war propaganda? Together with Marika, we explore the Georgian crisis: a hypercentralized state where the billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili is pulling his country away from Europe — and toward the Kremlin. If you want to support the struggle for democracy and freedom of the Georgian people, donate at georgiaprotest.com In this episode: ∙ The South Caucasus in the international chessboard ∙ The true face of Georgian Dream ∙ The 2024 electoral fraud ∙ Political prisoners and chemical weapons ∙ The Russian Trojan horse ∙ What the European Union can do for the Georgian people With reason, not rage. Timestamps 1:03 – What is your Budapest? The Caucasus dilemma 4:30 – The true face of Georgian Dream and the power of false narratives 9:10 – Elections in 2024: the fraud 17:30 – A year of protest: the regime versus the population in a limbo 22:30 – Too many political prisoners in Georgia 28:40 – Chemical weapons on the population 29:30 – Who is the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili 32:00 – How a hypercentralized, feudal State controls your life 35:00 – Georgia: the Russian Trojan horse 39:00 – The global power of narrative on war and morality 44:45 – A call for European leaders 52:00 – Four actions to support democracy in Georgia Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

56 min

28 Feb

Ep. 3 - Inside Hungary's Hybrid Regime, with Péter Krekó

For the third episode of Budapest, I spoke to Péter Krekó, director of the Political Capital Institute and one of Hungary's leading experts on disinformation, working in partnership with the European Digital Media Observatory. As a behavioral and political scientist as well as a disinformation expert, in this episode he takes us into the nuances of a regime that can be considered hybrid. Since 2010, Viktor Orbán and Fidesz have transformed Hungary into a hybrid regime by reshaping institutions and consolidating control over the media. Rather than relying on open repression, the government built an "informational autocracy," manipulating the media landscape to tilt the electoral playing field. Hungary is heading toward its 2026 elections: will the government change, and with it its relationship with the European Union? In this episode: The Orbán model: from 2010 to the current hybrid regimeWho is still supporting Viktor OrbánHow media pluralism shapes democracyHungary and its membership in the European UnionThe relationship between Giorgia Meloni and Viktor OrbánWith reason, not rage. Timestamps: 1:15 — What is your Budapest? 4:30 — Not Just a Common Election: The Rise of Orbán in 20107:15 — How Orbán Captured the Media11:10 — Has Hungary Given Up on Democracy? 20:40 — What an Orbán Voter Looks Like25:25 — How an Independent European Think Tank Can Survive in a Hybrid Regime 31:15 — An Ambiguous Triangle: EU, Hungary and Italy 35:00 — The Peacock Dance40:00 — Giorgia Meloni Seen from Budapest" 50:18 — Democracy Needs Pluralist Media Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

54 min

14 Feb

Ep. 2 – What Trade Means in the Global Disorder, with Cecilia Malmström

For the second episode of Budapest, I was joined by Cecilia Malmström — former MEP, European Commissioner, and Swedish EU Minister — one of the key figures in European Union trade policy over the past two decades. Trade was long conceived as a strategy to strengthen bonds between countries, and helped hundreds of millions come out of poverty. When did it become a means for aggressive foreign policies? Together with Cecilia, we explore international trade — its potential for the EU and beyond — despite the populist fantasy of self-sufficient national economies. In this episode: ∙ Trade as a weapon ∙ European commercial policy: what we are doing right or wrong ∙ The true impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs on our economies ∙ Which countries are still benefiting from WTO ∙ The legacy of populism on international trade With reason, not rage. Timestamps 1:33 – What Budapest means to Cecilia Malmström 2:55 – Trade: from tool for cooperation to its weaponization 7:32 – Can the EU still act as one? 12:55 – The new relationship with NATO 14:48 – How the EU is handling tariffs and why it’s hard to negotiate with Donald Trump 21:13 – The Airbus affair 24:00 – The US no longer like us: can we still be friends? 25:15 – How the WTO is doing and how China is benefiting from it 29:48 – Populists are manipulating Mercosur 40:41 – We need to see positive benefits of trade in domestic policies 46:44 – Do not obey in advance Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

51 min

31 Jan

Ep. 1 - The State of Democracy, with Nathalie Tocci

In my inaugural episode, I sit down with Nathalie Tocci — Director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali, former special advisor to EU High Representatives Mogherini and Borrell, and one of Europe's leading voices on foreign policy. From Trump's legacy to Greenland, from Iran's streets to Meloni's true intentions, we map the global state of liberal democracy — where it's crumbling, where it's holding, and what we can do about it. In this episode: What the US can (and cannot) resistVenezuela, Iran, and the limits of protestIs a new colonial order emerging?Europe's internal enemiesOne concrete thing you can do to defend democracyWith reason, not rage. Timestamps: 0:57 What is your Budapest? 4:55 Trump's legacy for the United States 6:38 The errors analysts make 8:32 US vs the illiberal virus: past vs present 12:15 From Venezuela to Greenland: the changing liberal order 21:50 What oppositions in Iran and Venezuela can expect 27:00 A new colonial order? 31:55 European liberal democracies today 41:19 The enemy within Europe 44:55 Mamdani's victory explained 49:45 What Meloni really thinks 52:00 What we can do to defend democracy 52:27 Conclusions Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo Visual identity: Martina Santurri Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

56 min

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Budapest is a podcast about the crisis of liberal democracy. Why it happens. How we fight back.

1 min

Budapest

Episodes

Ep. 11 - They Made an Enemy of Me, with Maria Mikaelyan

Ep. 10 - Is Paris burning?, with Sandro Gozi

Ep. 9 - There Is Always Someone to Your Right, with Cas Mudde

Ep. 8 - The Age of Ju-Jitsu Politics, with Catherine Fieschi

Ep. 7 - The true cost of Brexit, with Greg Hands

Ep. 6 - Democracy Is a System Not a Person, with Thomas Carothers

Ep. 5 - Politics Is Emotion Not Just Fact, with Catherine De Vries

Ep. 4 - The Georgian Dream Is a Nightmare, with Marika Mikiashvili

Ep. 3 - Inside Hungary's Hybrid Regime, with Péter Krekó

Ep. 2 – What Trade Means in the Global Disorder, with Cecilia Malmström

Ep. 1 - The State of Democracy, with Nathalie Tocci

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