The rise of the centrist dads

Brussels Playbook Podcast

POLITICO

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.4 • 202 Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

European ambassadors are gathering to prep for a leaders’ summit taking place in Cyprus next week. And yet again, the agenda will likely be dominated by geopolitical crises. Ian Wishart and guest co-host Ryan Heath explain how topics like the budget, enlargement and competitiveness are falling by the wayside as the bulk of the meeting will instead focus on the fallout of the Iran war. They also ask whether another leader will take over Viktor Orbán's role as the bad boy around the summit table. Next, centrist dads unite! We discuss how Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Canadian PM Mark Carney — running partners and friends who text each other regularly — are trying to build a new transatlantic alliance along with other middle powers. Also, Donald Trump’s backpedaling on a social media post that appeared to depict himself as Jesus Christ has us looking through the archives for other classic excuses used by politicians. Finally: The halloumi wars continue ... and Ryan weighs in with his cheesy take. Do you have any questions or comments for us? Sent them to our WhatsApp here or via +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Good morning. It's Wednesday the 15th of April and this is the Brussels Playbook podcast.
0:11.8	The vibe in Brussels today, as you may have noticed, busy. Life is returning to normal after the Easter holidays and world events mean that not for the first time, the issues that the EU really want to talk about are being squeezed out.
0:25.4	Also on the podcast today, The Rise of the Centrist Ads,
0:28.9	Politico's top story this morning features Alexander Stubb, the president of Finland,
0:33.2	and how his brand of liberal intellectualism is fighting back against the firebrands.
0:38.9	And finally, something fun. You probably saw the picture that Donald Trump posted appearing
0:43.3	to portray himself as Jesus. He backpedaled saying the image was actually him of a doctor.
0:48.7	So we've been taking a look in the archives of other classic excuses by politicians over time.
0:55.7	I'm Ian Wishart, political senior EU politics editor and joining me today is a real blast from the past. Ryan Heath, hello.
1:01.9	Hey Ian, it's great to be here in this palace of a podcast studio. Was it not like this in your day?
1:06.9	It was absolutely not like this in my day. You were the original Brussels playbook author.
1:11.8	You set it up 10 years ago and you were the original host of the EU Confidential podcast.
1:18.5	Is that right?
1:19.0	It's true and surviving.
1:21.2	That's my greatest skill.
1:22.3	So that's what brings me back here today.
1:23.8	But I met you in what, 2011, 2012 when you were European Commission spokesperson?
1:27.9	I think even before that.
1:28.8	2010 probably then, yeah.
1:30.4	It's over mulled wine in a very small apartment.
1:34.2	I remember it well, unfortunately. But you're back with us just for a few weeks because you're
1:38.5	going to launch the new playbook in Australia. Are we allowed to say that?
	...

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