If Hungary Can Do It

Radio Atlantic

The Atlantic

Politics, Society & Culture, News

4.3 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2026

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Whatever happens next in Hungary, Viktor Orbán’s stunning downfall contains obvious warnings for MAGA and Donald Trump: Propaganda has its limits. Concerns about affordability are real. True democracy can reassert itself in a single election. Reality can bend only so far. The Hungarian journalist Veronika Munk of the news outlet Denník N shares her view from the streets of Budapest. And the Atlantic staff writer Anne Applebaum, who covers autocracy, democracy, and Europe, explains why the election is a turning point for world politics. --- Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:48.2	Hi. Okay. Nice to meet you. Hi.
0:54.8	Nice to meet you.
0:55.7	Last weekend, Hungarian journalist Veronica Moon.
0:59.3	And I'm a journalist at Geniegen.
1:01.7	Was in Budapest covering the election between Prime Minister Victor Orban and the opposition leader, Peter Madjar.
1:09.0	Orban had been in power for the past 16 years, had changed the
1:13.2	country from the top down. They changed everything in the country to favor themselves.
1:19.7	The media, universities, the courts, in a way that certain global leaders who aspired to that
1:26.5	kind of grand power admired and marveled at.
1:29.6	And he's done a fantastic job.
1:32.7	He's a very powerful man within his country, but he's also beloved.
1:38.3	They love Victor.
1:40.7	And people that know...
1:41.7	Vice President J.D. Vance...
	...

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