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This episode explores Spain’s distinctive strategy toward Africa—expanding aid, deepening diplomacy, and embracing migration as an opportunity rather than a threat. We look at programs like circular migration and youth training that aim to create safe, mutually beneficial mobility, and contrast Spain’s stance with wider Western retrenchment. The government’s focus on West Africa spans economic development, security, culture, and anti-racism efforts, even as domestic political opposition grows.

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This episode explores Spain’s changing economic landscape as Madrid surpasses Catalonia as the country’s top contributor to GDP. We discuss how the 2017 independence crisis triggered an exodus of companies from Catalonia, while Madrid’s diversified, service-oriented economy and lower taxes fueled its rise. Experts highlight the “capital city effect,” fiscal policies, and the role of political stability and innovation in shaping Spain’s future economic leadership.

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This episode explores Spain’s growing medicine shortage, affecting over 1,100 pharmaceutical products, and the EU’s heavy reliance on China and India for active ingredients. We discuss the geopolitical and logistical risks behind this dependence, the difference between minor and critical drug shortages, and how initiatives like Spain’s Supply Guarantee Plan and the EU’s Critical Medicines Act aim to boost local production and strengthen pharmaceutical autonomy.

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This episode examines how the U.S. government shutdown disrupted salaries for over a thousand Spanish civilian employees at the Rota and Morón military bases. Caused by partisan gridlock in Washington, the budget freeze temporarily halted October payments and sparked union outrage in Spain. We discuss the diplomatic response, the temporary resolution, and the broader impact of U.S. political paralysis on international defense cooperation.

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This episode explores Generation Europe, a report by young Spanish experts proposing bold reforms for the European Union. We discuss their call to end unanimity in EU decision-making, strengthen strategic autonomy in defense and economic security, and boost leadership in AI, biotech, and green transition. The initiative, backed by the Elcano Institute and Spain’s Foreign Ministry, highlights the crucial role of youth engagement in renewing Europe’s democratic legitimacy.

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This episode looks back one year after the devastating DANA floods in Valencia that claimed 229 lives and caused massive destruction. Experts from the Polytechnic University of Valencia analyze the mix of extreme weather and human failures—poor infrastructure, inadequate planning, and weak emergency response. We discuss the progress made in alerts and reconstruction, and why experts warn the region remains unprepared for another disaster of similar scale.

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This episode explores Spain’s upcoming overhaul of its 143-year-old criminal procedure law, shifting control of criminal investigations from judges to prosecutors. Set to take effect in 2028, the reform introduces a new “guarantee judge” role, strengthens the independence of the Attorney General’s Office, and limits the use of popular prosecution. We discuss how this aligns Spain with modern European justice systems and what it means for judicial balance and accountability.

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This episode examines France and Spain’s firm backing of the EU’s plan to ban new diesel and petrol car sales by 2035, a key step toward carbon neutrality by 2050. We discuss their united stance against extending plug-in hybrid use, their call for European-made incentives to protect local jobs, and how this position contrasts with resistance from countries like Germany and Italy concerned about their auto industries.

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This episode covers the successful launch of SpainSat NG II from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, marking the completion of Spain’s secure communications program, SPAINSAT NG. Together with its twin satellite, it will cover nearly two-thirds of the planet, strengthening Spain’s technological leadership and Europe’s strategic autonomy. We explore how this mission enhances secure communications for Spain’s Armed Forces, NATO, and the EU.

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This episode explores how Spaniards perceive aging, with a new study showing that people aged 30 to 50 fear cognitive decline far more than physical changes. We discuss how priorities have shifted toward mental and physical well-being over appearance, the growing emphasis on preventive habits like exercise and healthy eating, and how many now see aging as a hopeful stage of self-care and fulfillment.

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This episode explores Spain’s proposal to abolish seasonal clock changes across the European Union, arguing that daylight saving time no longer saves energy and harms public health. Supported by scientific studies and public opinion—two-thirds of Spaniards oppose the practice—Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez plans to push the issue at the upcoming EU Council meeting. We also revisit the stalled 2019 EU plan and the debate over which time standard Europe should ultimately adopt.

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This episode covers the Popular Party’s (PP) plan to take Spain’s government to the Constitutional Court over its failure to present new state budgets for three consecutive years. With a Senate majority, the PP argues that Pedro Sánchez’s government is violating a constitutional duty by still operating under the 2022 accounts. We examine the political tensions, accusations of legislative paralysis, and what this constitutional dispute could mean for Spain’s fiscal governance.

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This episode delves into Spain’s ongoing poverty crisis, where over four million people live on less than €644 a month and one in four citizens remains at risk of poverty. Based on the latest EAPN-ES report, we examine the stark regional divide—especially in Andalusia and Extremadura—and the alarming fact that Spain has the EU’s highest child poverty rate. We also discuss why economic growth isn’t translating into equality and the call for a national pact to strengthen income support, housing, and social cohesion.

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This episode examines Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to expel Spain from NATO over its refusal to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. We explore his criticism of Spain as the alliance’s “freeloader,” his ongoing feud with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and the broader implications for U.S.–European relations amid shifting defense priorities and rising geopolitical tensions.

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This episode explores the clash between Spain and the European Commission over fines imposed on low-cost airlines for charging extra fees on hand luggage. Brussels argues that airlines can set prices for oversized bags, while Spain insists basic carry-on should always be free. We discuss the political backlash from Madrid, the support from Ryanair’s CEO, and what this legal dispute means for European travelers.

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This episode explores Spain’s long-standing solidarity with Palestine and how it shapes its strained relationship with Israel. We look at the deep-rooted public sympathy across political lines, protests affecting national events like the Vuelta a España, and Spain’s historical ties to the Arab world dating back to Franco’s era. The discussion also covers recent diplomatic tensions fueled by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s critical stance toward Israel’s actions in Gaza.

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This episode examines Spain’s housing emergency, where record-high prices clash with 3.8 million vacant homes. We explore why most empty properties are in low-demand rural areas while major cities face shortages, and how legal uncertainty, uninhabitable conditions, and weak enforcement of the 2023 Housing Law are worsening the crisis.

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This episode explores Europe’s progress in digital identification systems compared to the UK’s controversial plan for a mandatory “Brit Card.” We look at how EU countries like Estonia, Denmark, and Spain lead with secure, voluntary digital IDs under the upcoming eIDAS 2.0 law, while the UK faces backlash over privacy and surveillance concerns. Set for 2029, the Brit Card aims to streamline public services and curb fraud—but millions fear it could compromise civil liberties.

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This episode explores Spain’s 2024 abortion statistics, which show a 3% overall increase with more than 106,000 cases, including a sharp rise among women under 20. We discuss the dominance of private clinics, regional disparities in public healthcare, and why most abortions occur early and at women’s request. The report also highlights gaps in sexual education and contraceptive use, with nearly half of women not using protection, sparking debate on public health and policy reforms.

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This episode examines a new Treasury report sent to the European Prosecutor highlighting irregularities in €8.4 million worth of Red.es contracts linked to businessman Juan Carlos Barrabés. The case involves recommendation letters signed by Begoña Gómez, raising concerns over conflicts of interest, erased metadata, and transparency failures. We also look at the parallel investigation into Gómez for alleged influence peddling and corruption, and the political fallout surrounding the controversy.