The Transponder: Transatlantic Affairs and Beyond

Bertelsmann Foundation
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From the Bertelsmann Foundation's acclaimed interviews and documentaries comes a new space for ideas to breathe. The Transponder: Transatlantic Affairs and Beyond branches out from our films and discussions, diving deeper into the people, policies, and perspectives shaping the world. Much like its namesake device, this podcast takes ideas from across the oceans, processes them, and sends them back—more human, more alive, and more connected. Hosted by Dr. Samuel George, Director of BFNA Docs, each episode explores the stories and challenges defining the transatlantic community today.

  1. The End of the Newspaper? with Tom Hamburger

    4d ago

    The End of the Newspaper? with Tom Hamburger

    For decades, local newspapers were among the most powerful institutions in American life. They exposed corruption, held leaders accountable, and bound communities together through a shared understanding of the world around them. Today, much of that system is collapsing. Newsrooms across the country have been hollowed out by layoffs, corporate consolidation, shrinking advertising revenue, and the relentless migration of audiences online. Entire communities now live in news deserts, with little or no local reporting at all. The consequences are profound: rising polarization, declining civic trust, unchecked misinformation, and a growing sense that Americans no longer inhabit the same reality. In episode 14 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tom Hamburger about the slow unraveling of local journalism and what has been lost in the process. As newspapers disappear and public trust fractures, what happens to democracy when nobody is left watching?

    25 min
  2. Germany & the United States with Courtney Flynn Martino

    May 12

    Germany & the United States with Courtney Flynn Martino

    For decades, Germany  and the United States stood at the center of the transatlantic alliance; partners bound by shared security interests, economic ties, and a common vision for the Western world. Today, that relationship is under strain. President Trump has repeatedly clashed with Germany over defense spending, trade, energy policy, and Europe's dependence on Ameican security guarantees. That pressure has only grown as Europe watches President Trump's decision to wage war against Iran with deep concern. At the same time, Germany faces mounting challenges at home: economic stagnation, political polarization, questions about military readiness, and growing uncertainty about the future of the Western alliance itself. In this episode, host Samuel George speaks with Courtney Flynn Martino, Assistant Director of Transatlantic Relations at the Bertelsmann Foundation, about how Germany is navigating the Trump era, and what this moment means for the future of the transatlantic relationship. As tensions rise on both sides of the Atlantic , can the U.S.-German partnership endure?

    28 min
  3. Hungary After Orbán with Bulcsú Hunyadi

    Apr 30

    Hungary After Orbán with Bulcsú Hunyadi

    A new day has arrived in Hungary. After 16 years in power, Viktor Orban, one of the defining figures of modern right-wing populism has been voted out. His system, which he openly described as an "illiberal democracy." reshaped Hungary's institutions, weakened checks and balances, and concentrated power in the hands of the ruling party. In April 2026, that system was upended. Peter Magyar, a former government insider, united a fragmented opposition, and won a sweeping electoral victory, defying expectations that Orban's grip on power could not be broken. In episode 12 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with Bulcsu Hunyadi of Political Capital, a research institution based in Budapest about how this breakthrough happened, and what comes next.

    19 min
  4. Cuba on the Brink with Peter Kornbluh

    Apr 20

    Cuba on the Brink with Peter Kornbluh

    Cuba is at a breaking point. An escalating U.S. pressure campaign has cut off critical oil supplies, deepening an already fragile economic crisis. Blackouts stretch for days. Food shortages intensify. Hospitals struggle to function. What is unfolding on the island is an humanitarian emergency, driven by both internal failures and external pressure. In Episode 11 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with Peter Kornbluh, Senior Analyst at the National Security Archive, about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Cuba and the strategy driving U.S. policy. Drawing on decades of research into U.S.-Latin American relations, Kornbluh argues that Washington is pursuing a deliberate strategy of economic strangulation, aimed at forcing political capitulation. He examines how sanctions, energy restrictions, and diplomatic pressure have combined to isolate Cuba from the global economy, while also assessing the role of long-term mismanagement within the Cuban system itself.

    27 min

  5. Mar 31

    War in Iran with John Bolton

    The United States and Iran are now one month into open conflict, without clear resolution in sight. Washington has undertaken its largest military buildup in the Middle East since the early years of the Iraq War. At the same time, negotiations continue in Pakistan, even as the strategic endgame remains uncertain. For many Americans, the fundamental questions remain unanswered: Why are we in this conflict? What will it cost in lives and resources? What are we trying to achieve? What are the risks? And what comes next? In episode 10 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with Ambassador John Bolton, former U.S. National Security Advisor, who has long argued that confrontation with the Islamic Republic was both necessary and inevitable. Bolton lays out the case for a hardline approach, adressess the risks of escalation, including the danger of claiming victory too early. At a moment of deep uncertainty, this conversation explores the logic behind the conflict, and the stakes for U.S. policy and global stability.

    29 min
  6. The American Economy with Jason Furman

    Mar 24

    The American Economy with Jason Furman

    The American economy is at a moment of tension. Growth is resilient, unemployment is low, and demand continues to hold. Yet beneath the surface, structural pressures are building. Persistent inflation, rising deficits, and geopolitical fragmentation are shaping the economic outlook. Consumer sentiment is weak, even as headline indicators point to expansion. In episode 9 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with economist Jason Furman about the current state of the U.S. economy and the forces that will define its trajectory in the years ahead. Drawing on his experience as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama, Furman unpacks  the post-pandemic recovery, the evolving role of fiscal policy, and the trade-offs facing policymakers as they navigate inflation, debt, and how AI could shape long-term growth and employment. Critically, he argues that despite strong headline indicators, the U.S. economy is entering a period where the tradeoffs facing policymakers are becoming sharper and harder to avoid.

    28 min
  7. The State of Aid with Jeremy Konyndyk

    Mar 13

    The State of Aid with Jeremy Konyndyk

    Just over a year ago, the Trump Administration dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, fundamentally altering the landscape of global humanitarian aid. So, some fourteen months later, what is the state of aid? In Episode 8 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with humanitarian policy expert Jeremy Konyndyk about the changing landscape of global support for the world's most vulnerable populations. Drawing on his experience leading humanitarian policy at USAID and other international organizations, Konyndyk explains how the global aid architecture works, and why it is struggling to keep pace with modern crises. Critically, he argues that a retreat from humanitarian engagement does not merely affect vulnerable populations abroad - it also creates strategic risks for the United States.

    33 min
  8. Europe's Energy Transition with Marc Ringel

    Mar 2

    Europe's Energy Transition with Marc Ringel

    In episode 7 of The Transponder, host Samuel George speaks with energy policy expert Marc Ringel of Sciences Po Paris about Europe's ambitious effort to transform its energy system amid geopolitical shocks, climate pressures, and global competition. For decades, Europe relied heavily on imported fossil fuels, particularly from Russia. Today, the continent is accelerating a transition toward  renewables, electrification, and new industrial models while trying to maintain economic competitiveness and energy security. The conversation explores decoupling from Russian energy, the role of nuclear power, competition with China in electric vehicles and batteries, and what diverging U.S. and European strategies mean for transatlantic cooperation.

    31 min
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About

From the Bertelsmann Foundation's acclaimed interviews and documentaries comes a new space for ideas to breathe. The Transponder: Transatlantic Affairs and Beyond branches out from our films and discussions, diving deeper into the people, policies, and perspectives shaping the world. Much like its namesake device, this podcast takes ideas from across the oceans, processes them, and sends them back—more human, more alive, and more connected. Hosted by Dr. Samuel George, Director of BFNA Docs, each episode explores the stories and challenges defining the transatlantic community today.

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