Europe Under Threat: Can the Centre Hold?

The David McWilliams Podcast

David McWilliams

News & Politics

4.5 • 692 Ratings

🗓️ 11 December 2025

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Europe is under pressure militarily, economically, and politically. NATO spending is up 45% since 2014. Germany’s exports to China have dropped 11% in a single year. France is bracing for a possible far-right presidency. Here in Ireland, neutrality suddenly feels less like a principle and more like a liability. In this episode, we ask: is Europe still a power bloc, or just a museum with great croissants? From Russian disinformation to Chinese green tech dominance, we break down the numbers behind Europe’s strategic decline, and what Ireland needs to wake up to before it’s too late.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Just before we start, if you're looking for a Christmas present that actually lasts,
0:04.6	are a New Year's gift to yourself, this just might be it.
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0:22.0	It's master's level education at national school prices. You'll get weekly lessons, quizzes,
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0:39.4	That's patreon.com forward slash David McWilliams.
0:44.6	To understand the economy, you have to understand human nature.
0:50.9	This podcast is powered by ACAST.
0:59.6	How you doing there?
1:01.5	It is time for the podcast.
1:03.7	Today the podcast comes live from Clonacilty in Westcourt, Klona Kilty, an amazing little town, full of great bars, full of great little
1:15.9	places to go.
1:17.7	Classic, classic West Cork vibe, except, John, I am also coming to you live from Clonacilty
1:25.4	in what looks like one of the worst storms this winter.
1:29.3	It's called Storm Bram after Bram Stoker.
1:33.1	Yeah, it looks like your head was out in the storm.
1:35.9	I woke up this morning.
1:39.6	I opened the window.
1:42.0	All you could hear was the Atlantic crashing in a massive waves.
	...

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