Over Here, Over There: International Politics & Culture Podcast

Dan Harris and Claudia Koestler; Copyright: © 2026 Over Here, Over There. All rights reserved. Website: https://www.overhereoverthere.org
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Over Here, Over There: Your essential guide to US-EU politics, international relations, and cross-cultural dialogue. Join Dan Harris (BBC commentator) and Claudia Koestler (Süddeutsche Zeitung Senior Editor) for expert analysis on democracy, transatlantic relations, and global affairs.  What We Cover:• US-European political relations & transatlantic dialogue• Democracy, governance & political systems worldwide• Cultural differences & cross-cultural understanding• International trade, tariffs & economic policy• Expert interviews with global leaders & decision-makers  Perfect for: Policy professionals, international relations students, and globally-minded citizens who want insider perspectives on world politics. New episodes weekly Hosts: Dan Harris - International marketing consultant, BBC Radio political commentatorClaudia Koestler - Senior Editor, Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany's leading newspaper) Connect with us:Website: overhereoverthere.orgSupport us: patreon.com/overhereoverthere #InternationalPolitics, #USEURelations, #Democracy, #GlobalAffairs, #CrossCulturalDialogue, #TransatlanticRelations

  1. 22h ago

    Life in DC Under Trump: Jobs, Fear, and Hope

    What is life in Washington, DC like under Donald Trump? Artist and resident Carrie Adams shares her perspective on federal job losses, fear in the community, and the small acts that keep people connected.  Recorded in Washington, D.C., this Over Here, Over There interview goes beyond the political headlines to explore what changes in the US capital mean for people who call it home. Carrie has lived in the city on and off since 2004 and has also lived in several other countries. She discusses the impact of USAID funding cuts, uncertainty for families, Washington’s struggle over local self-government, and the role of protest and community support.  But this is also a conversation about what gets lost when America is seen only through its most prominent political voices. What could Europe learn from American diversity and community spirit? And what could the United States learn from European education, healthcare, and social safety nets? In this episode: Life in Washington, DC under the Trump administration; federal jobs, USAID funding, and the local economy; DC home rule and political representation; immigration fears, protests, and community solidarity; American identity beyond the headlines; what Europe and America could learn from each other. Carrie speaks from her own experience and political perspective; she does not speak for all Washington residents or all Americans.  Please check out our OHOT website for this and other episodes, and on our social media channels.

    Life in DC Under Trump: Jobs, Fear, and Hope

  2. 4d ago

    I, Claudia: The New Abnormal - Washington DC Before the Midterms

    Days before the 2026 midterms, Claudia, co-host of ‪@OverHereOverThere‬  podcast, walked through Washington DC. National Guard troops on the streets, fences, and a lone protester on the Lincoln Memorial steps. Is this what normal looks like there? In this episode of Over Here, Over There, Claudia shares what she saw in the capital: the security fences around Lafayette Park, the White House, and the Ellipse, the enormous concrete wall of the new ballroom, and the subtle signs of dissent, from "Stop him" stickers to "Free DC" messages. Claudia also talks with a protester on the Lincoln Memorial steps about why he comes back every day, whether it works, and what he thinks is driving the anger behind this election. Questions for you: What are you seeing in your city? Tell us in the comments what you want to hear more of next. Subscribe for the next stop on the road— and please share, like, and comment. Have your say. www.overhereoverthere.org

    I, Claudia: The New Abnormal - Washington DC Before the Midterms

  3. Oct 20

    Should You Visit the US at All?

    Claudia and Dan switch places as she goes on a six-week tour of America, while Dan continues podcasting in her Bavarian homeland in Munich. Claudia will be doing field reporting and has been asked whether she should go at all. Her answer: Especially now, we need to keep the conversation going. What's your view: should journalists keep travelling and reporting across borders, even when it's tense? Tell us in the comments. #OverHereOverThere #Shorts #USTravel #FieldReporting #EuropeVsUS #Journalism #Podcast

    Should You Visit the US at All?

  4. Oct 20

    I, Claudia: Orban Lost. Can Trump Be Next?

    Orbán Lost. Can Trump Be Next? What Hungary Teaches the USA — and Germany In April 2026, Viktor Orbán lost. After 16 years in power, Hungary's nationalist  strongman was crushed at the ballot box — 138 of 199 seats gone, nearly 80% voter  turnout, the highest since Hungary became a democracy in 1990. Now the US midterms are due. Democrats lead in the polls.  And everyone is asking the same question: can the same thing happen in America? In this episode of Over Here, Over There, we look at what Hungary's election  actually tells us — and what it doesn't. Why the comparison with America is real  but complicated. What Péter Magyar did right that others keep getting wrong. And  why, from a German perspective, the lesson from Budapest goes deeper than any  poll number. Because when people truly understand what they stand to lose, they show up. Eighty percent of them did in Hungary. 🎙️ Over Here, Over There — the transatlantic podcast comparing how the same  world looks different in Europe and America.

    I, Claudia: Orban Lost. Can Trump Be Next?

  5. Sep 29

    Is Democracy Delivering?

    Why are voters losing faith in democracy—and what might restore it? Over a pint in a lively London pub, the hosts of Over Here, Over There compare the political mood in Britain, Germany and the United States. They discuss Andy Burnham’s new premiership and the pressure to deliver results, the AfD’s surge in Saxony-Anhalt, and why some voters feel frustrated or disconnected from democratic politics. Is the public expecting change too quickly—or reacting to real problems such as the cost of living, political distrust, and a sense that globalisation hasn’t worked for everyone? The conversation also explores how social media fuels comparison and pessimism, whether London’s international character can broaden our perspective, and what a democratic “fightback” might look like in the US. Plus: a preview of the hosts’ upcoming “Dump-o-meter.” A candid, cross-border conversation about democracy, populism, political polarization and everyday life in the UK, Germany and America. What matters more to you: fast results from political leaders, or protecting democratic checks and balances? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments. This episode is a conversation and political commentary, not a news bulletin. The views expressed are those of the hosts. If you enjoyed the discussion, like, subscribe, and share Over Here, Over There — a Podcast Across Borders. What should we compare next? #Democracy #UKPolitics #GermanyPolitics

    Is Democracy Delivering?

  6. Aug 24

    I, Claudia: A Fishy Question - Why is Iceland Rethinking Europe?

    A country with no standing army, a €7.3 billion fishing industry and a complicated relationship with Europe is about to ask a surprisingly big question: should Iceland restart EU membership talks? On 29 August 2026, Icelanders will vote — not on joining the European Union, but on whether to reopen negotiations. A “Yes” vote would start talks; it would not make Iceland an EU member. A second referendum would be required before Iceland could actually join. In this monologue episode of Over Here, Over There, Claudia looks beyond the headline. Why did Iceland’s EU talks stop in 2013? Why is control of its fishing grounds so politically powerful? And why has Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland — along with his apparent confusion between Greenland and Iceland — made Europe look different from Reykjavík? Iceland already has access to the European single market through the European Economic Area and participates in Schengen. It also sits in the strategically important GIUK gap between Greenland and the United Kingdom, making this small North Atlantic country significant far beyond its size. The result is a debate about much more than Brussels. It is about fish, sovereignty, economic security, Arctic geopolitics and trust in an old ally. Iceland has not suddenly fallen in love with the European Union. It is asking what to do when yesterday’s certainties begin to wobble. Watch the episode and tell us: would you reopen the talks — or keep Iceland outside the EU? This episode is presented as a pre-referendum analysis. Please check the latest official information if watching after 29 August 2026. 🎙️ Over Here, Over There — the transatlantic podcast and beyond, comparing how the same world looks different from Europe and America. Please check out this and other episodes on our website overhereoverthere.org and all major podcast platforms. Most episodes are available in video and audio versions. Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, leave a comment, and hit that notification bell to be alerted when another episode drops! This all helps us grow the OHOT podcast and bring you more content like this. Thanks again.

    I, Claudia: A Fishy Question - Why is Iceland Rethinking Europe?

  7. Aug 13

    I, Claudia: US Funds Far-Right in Europe

    The US State Department just launched a $5 million grant scheme to fund  organisations in Europe — pushing "Western civilizational heritage,"  anti-migration narratives, and attacks on the free press.  Right before Germany's September 2026 elections. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is an official US government programme,  published on state.gov, run by a bureau originally created to fight Soviet  authoritarianism. That same bureau is now targeting allied democracies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had to warn Washington publicly : stay out  of our elections. In this episode of Over Here, Over There, we look at what is actually in  this grant scheme, who is behind it, why Germany is uniquely placed to  recognise the danger — and what it means when the country that spent decades  lecturing the world about election interference starts doing it to its friends. Key Topics US foreign policy funding in EuropeGermany's response to US influenceThe role of the State Department in European politicsHistorical context of US democracy promotionThe impact of foreign funding on European electionsGermany's constitutional resilience against external influenceThe evolution of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and LaborImplications for US-Germany relationsSound Bites "Germany had to warn the US not to interfere with its elections""Developing civilizational bonds, democratic resilience and rule of law in Europe""Germany's constitutional model was built to be hard to break" 🎙️ Over Here, Over There — the transatlantic podcast and beyond, comparing how the same world looks different from Europe and America. Please check out this and other episodes on our website overhereoverthere.org and all major podcast platforms. Most episodes are available in video and audio versions. Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, leave a comment, and hit that notification bell to be alerted when another episode drops! This all helps us grow the OHOT podcast and bring you more content like this. Thanks again. ,

    I, Claudia: US Funds Far-Right in Europe

  8. Jul 16

    Free Speech Under Pressure: Jacob Mchangama on Germany & the US

    Is free speech under threat in the world's leading democracies — including Germany and the United States?  In this episode of Over Here, Over There — the podcast across borders, host Claudia Koestler talks with Jacob Mchangama, Danish lawyer, professor at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), and author of Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media, recorded live at the Amerikahaus in Munich. Mchangama is one of the foremost global experts on free speech, civil liberties, and democratic backsliding. In this wide-ranging conversation, he argues that we are living through a global free speech recession — and that both Europe and the United States are moving in a more speech-restrictive direction, each for very different reasons. In this episode: 🇩🇪 Why free speech in Germany is fundamentally different from the US — and what history has to do with it 🇺🇸 How the Trump administration is challenging democratic norms — and why the First Amendment is the last line of defense 🌍 The "global free speech recession" — which countries are getting it right (Taiwan, Hungary, Denmark) and which are not 📱 Social media, algorithms, and disinformation — are platforms really radicalizing users? ⚖️ Hate speech laws vs. free expression: where should the line be drawn? 🏛️ What democracies must do to protect themselves — without becoming what they fear 🤖 AI, information access, and why you must never outsource your mind Key quote from this episode:"Free speech is the first freedom of a democracy — without it, none of the other rights or democratic processes are really possible." — Jacob Mchangama About Over Here, Over There: :Over Here, Over There is a transatlantic podcast hosted by Claudia Koestler and Dan Harris, sharing and comparing news, politics, culture, and current affairs across the Atlantic. Recorded often at iconic and esteemed venues. 🎙️ Subscribe for new episodes every other week. 📍 Recorded at Amerikahaus München, Munich, Germany.

    Free Speech Under Pressure: Jacob Mchangama on Germany & the US
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About

Over Here, Over There: Your essential guide to US-EU politics, international relations, and cross-cultural dialogue. Join Dan Harris (BBC commentator) and Claudia Koestler (Süddeutsche Zeitung Senior Editor) for expert analysis on democracy, transatlantic relations, and global affairs.  What We Cover:• US-European political relations & transatlantic dialogue• Democracy, governance & political systems worldwide• Cultural differences & cross-cultural understanding• International trade, tariffs & economic policy• Expert interviews with global leaders & decision-makers  Perfect for: Policy professionals, international relations students, and globally-minded citizens who want insider perspectives on world politics. New episodes weekly Hosts: Dan Harris - International marketing consultant, BBC Radio political commentatorClaudia Koestler - Senior Editor, Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany's leading newspaper) Connect with us:Website: overhereoverthere.orgSupport us: patreon.com/overhereoverthere #InternationalPolitics, #USEURelations, #Democracy, #GlobalAffairs, #CrossCulturalDialogue, #TransatlanticRelations

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Harris and Claudia Koestler; Copyright: © 2026 Over Here, Over There. All rights reserved. Website: https://www.overhereoverthere.org
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Over Here, Over There: International Politics & Culture Podcast
  • Show Website
    Over Here, Over There: International Politics & Culture Podcast

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