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PODCAST

The Western Bubble

Balder Hageraats & Dario Hasenstab

Every Monday, Balder Hageraats and Dario Hasenstab examine how Western countries are increasingly lost in their own delusions on the world stage, and what can be done to bring them back to reality. We discuss issues ranging from geopolitics and human rights to development aid and current affairs, all through the lens of the Western Bubble.

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All Episodes

35:57

Lights out for the West? 2025 Iberian Peninsula...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/05/07

What happens when the lights go out across an entire region?This week, we talk about the massive blackout that plunged the Iberian Peninsula into darkness and the strange psychological aftermath that followed. Balder shares his experience from the ground in Madrid, while we reflect on how quickly panic and rumors—especially of World War III and our last episode on the fear of war—spread through a society gripped by fear. From people raiding grocery stores to others flocking to parks, the reactions

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38:29

The West is preparing for WAR #111

The Western Bubble ·

2025/04/29

As global tensions continue to rise, the West appears to be entering a psychological phase of preparing for war. From escalating rhetoric in Europe to increased defense spending and political leaders openly calling for rearmament, we examine how the narrative is shifting—from deterrence to expectation. What does it mean when headlines across the continent begin to normalize the prospect of conflict?We start this episode with the latest flare-up between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan,

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55:58

Holy Alliances: Religion’s Role in Foreign Policy...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/04/22

Just hours after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, we take a step back to examine the enduring role of religion in shaping global politics. As crises multiply and chaos spreads, a growing number of people, especially young adults, are turning back to faith. But what does this resurgence mean for international relations?We explore how religious structures—from the hierarchy of the Catholic Church to the decentralised force of Evangelicals—shape policy differently. We dive into the influence

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35:04

Reasonable Answers to the Trump Tariffs? #109

The Western Bubble ·

2025/04/16

Trump’s 90-day tariff pause might sound like an opening for diplomacy—but the real reason behind it lies in bond markets, not international goodwill. And while most countries now have a temporary reprieve, China is very much not included. With tariff levels now skyrocketing to 145% on both sides, Washington and Beijing are locked in a dangerous game.So why is the EU still trying to play the part of the reasonable adult in the room? Ursula von der Leyen may believe that measured, moderate politics

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46:01

Tariffs, Tantrums and Transactions: The Art of...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/04/08

Donald Trump’s latest tariff plan is as bold as it is baffling. A 60% tax on Chinese imports, arbitrary surcharges on trade deficits, and even tariffs on… the Penguin Islands? With Vietnam already targeted and Europe bracing for impact, what exactly is the strategy here—if any?In this episode, we break down Trump’s tariff logic (or lack thereof) and explore the possible scenarios: Is this just a negotiating tactic? A deliberate move to collapse the global trade system? Or simply economic

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43:05

Signal failure: the Trump administration going off...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/04/01

The Western Bubble has been added to the chatIn this episode, we delve into the recent security breach where U.S. national security leaders used the Signal app to discuss imminent military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. The situation escalated when National Security Advisor Mike Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to the group chat, leading to public exposure of sensitive information.We examine the implications of conducting high-level military

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50:55

The West Is Fading—Who Will Rule the World in 2050? #106

The Western Bubble ·

2025/03/25

The transatlantic alliance is broken—so what happens next? In this episode, we strip away the hype and look at the deep trends shaping our world: the growing disconnect between leaders and citizens, the rise of a global oligarchy, and the breakdown of Western institutions. With liberal democracy fading, does the world shift toward multipolar power centres like China, India, and Brazil? And if the West is in decline, what happens to the systems built on it—NATO, the WHO, the global economy?This

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45:52

History’s Biggest Mistakes: Are We About to Repeat...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/03/18

History is full of moments when people misjudged the future—either by being too pessimistic or not pessimistic enough. In the 1930s, optimism blinded many to the rise of fascism. During the Cold War, existential fears clashed with hopes for progress. In the late 1980s, faith in a post-Soviet world fueled the Western Bubble, while 2010 saw coping mechanisms replace real solutions, paving the way for today’s crises.Now, as we stand at another crossroads, what lessons can we draw from the past? And

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44:03

Breaking Free: What Europe Must Do in a Post-Atlantic...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/03/11

With the transatlantic relationship in crisis, Europe faces a choice: continue clinging to a U.S. that no longer sees it as a true partner, or chart its own course. In this episode, we break down what the EU must do now—from shedding its emotional dependence on Washington to building real military autonomy and forging new alliances with nations similarly impacted by Trump’s policies.We also discuss how Europe can play a decisive role in Ukraine’s path toward a ceasefire, and why strategic

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39:24

Oval Office Fallout – The End of Transatlantic...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/03/05

As promised, we’re back this week to unpack the aftermath of the now-infamous Oval Office incident between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—with Vice President JD Vance awkwardly present in the background. This diplomatic mess goes far beyond the usual theatrics, shaking the very foundations of US Foreign Policy.In Europe (and Canada), leaders are scrambling to respond—some choosing appeasement, others facing the reality that this could be the final nail in the

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45:11

Middle East at Boiling Point: Israel, Syria, and the...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/03/04

In this episode, we return to the ever-escalating tensions in the Middle East. From the latest prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas—where each side’s reactions reveal deep-rooted asymmetries—to repeated violations of agreements, the region is once again teetering on the edge.We also turn our attention to Hezbollah and a lingering question—can you truly defeat an organisation’s ideas through military force alone? Meanwhile, Syria briefly steps back into the international spotlight, even earning

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44:19

Uncertain Alliances: Europe’s Shift and Trump’s...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/02/25

In this episode, we focus on two key developments shaking the Western order. JD Vance at MSC says Europe's gravest threat isn’t external—it’s the continent's own retreat from the core values it once shared with the U.S. ... A retreat, it turns out, from the U.S. on those very values. Meanwhile, on the international stage, Trump's unorthodox manoeuvres—from secret talks with Putin about Ukraine to his startling proposal to resettle Gaza’s population—signal a new era of unpredictable diplomacy. How do

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49:22

100 Episodes, One Western Bubble – A Retrospective #100

The Western Bubble ·

2025/02/18

As we celebrate our 100th episode, we take a reflective journey through our past discussions—from early debates on institutional decline and the evolving Western narrative to our deep dives into the turmoil in Ukraine, Israel, and beyond. We’ve dissected the insights of figures like Tucker Carlson, Fukuyama, Huntington, G. W. Bush, Jordan Peterson, and Simon Tisdall, and scrutinized issues from European political dysfunction to the shifting balance of global power. In this special milestone episode,

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40:09

The Cracks Are Showing: Power, Dysfunction, and the...

The Western Bubble ·

2025/02/11

As we approach our 100th episode, we take a step back to examine the chaos of the past two months. From the latest developments in the U.S. to the growing influence of unchecked power—whether through Elon Musk’s reckless decisions, presidential decrees, or a media landscape failing to offer real scrutiny—one thing is clear: the cracks in Western institutions are widening. We also discuss Europe’s political dysfunction, by looking at the Netherlands and Germany. But as we lay out these challenges,

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50:28

Trump's Foreign Policy #098

The Western Bubble ·

2025/02/04

Happy New Year! We’re back, and so is the geopolitical madness we’ve come to expect. With President Trump now inaugurated, he has wasted no time making bold moves. But what’s really behind his claims on Panama, Canada, and Greenland? What do these actions signal for U.S. foreign policy as a whole? And ultimately, is America now more or less likely to start a war? Tune in as we break it all down.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director

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55:53

End of Year (and the world as we know it) #097

The Western Bubble ·

2024/12/31

As 2024 draws to a close, the cracks in the global order have become impossible to ignore. From Ukraine’s waning prospects in its war against Russia and Western disengagement to the political chaos in the Middle East, the world is at a crossroads. On top of that, we discuss the unchecked power of billionaires, the growing dominance of the populist right, and the harsh realities of climate change.As we reflect on the changes and challenges of this year, we hope that the Western Bubble Podcast has

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63:11

Immigration in the Western Bubble #96

The Western Bubble ·

2024/12/30

Immigration is one of the most polarizing topics in Western politics today, consistently topping voter priorities and shaping political campaigns. But how much of what we believe about migration is actually true? In this episode, we unravel some of the most persistent myths about immigration, exposing how politicians and the media distort reality to serve their agendas.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab

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46:45

Martial Law in South Korea and the US Health Care...

The Western Bubble ·

2024/12/10

In today’s episode, we delve into South Korea, where President Yoon’s declaration of martial law raises critical questions about the Western Bubble. Are Western factions quietly observing what to avoid—or adopt—when consolidating control? We also examine the shocking murder of a healthcare CEO and what it reveals about the growing disconnect between economic and political elites and the public they claim to serve. Tune in to uncover the deeper implications of these events and how they resonate

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50:48

The Global Dominoes: Syria, Lebanon, and Georgia #094

The Western Bubble ·

2024/12/04

From Biden pardoning Hunter Biden to Trump’s influence on global diplomacy, this episode dives into the intricate web of U.S. domestic politics and its global ripple effects. We explore Trump’s role in Biden mediating a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, analyse the chaos in Georgia, and assess the resurging instability in Syria. How do these events connect, and what does it reveal about Western policymaking in an increasingly multipolar world?This podcast is published with the help of

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35:58

Geopolitics of the Arctic #093

The Western Bubble ·

2024/11/26

As the Arctic transforms into a region of strategic importance due to climate change, new opportunities and tensions emerge. Trade routes, resource access, and geopolitical ambitions converge in a competition that involves Russia, NATO, and other global players. In this episode, we unpack the power dynamics and the stakes shaping the future of the Arctic.This podcast is produced with the support of RAIA NOW gUG but remains an independent project by RAIA Director Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats

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145 results

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