Socialists and Democrats: Take a Left
The podcast is the official show of the Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament. It focuses on addressing Europe's emerging challenges from a progressive, left-wing perspective. Each episode likely features discussions with politicians, experts, and activists on key European policy issues. It offers insights into the political agenda and vision of the S&D group for the European Union.
Afleveringen
People don’t care who fixes the housing crisis – they just want it fixed
Europe’s housing crisis is no longer a distant concern, it’s here, and it’s urgent. What concrete steps should come next?
In this episode, we bring together S&D VP Gaby Bischoff and Commissioner Dan Jørgensen to explain how the European Parliament and the Commission can work hand in hand to deliver solutions.
From the Parliament’s report on the housing crisis to the Commission’s affordable ho
EU & USA: We need to talk
High time for us to stand up for ourselves. What will it take for the EU to stand on its own two feet and be independent of the USA?
New podcast on the EU-USA relationship, with Kathleen Van Brempt, out now.
Can the EU lower your rent?
What can the EU do about the cost of having a home?
Quite a bit, actually. We spoke to Aodhán Ó Ríordáin about making housing a right, not an object of speculation. We spoke about how to provide affordable housing again and how to end homelessness.
Budapest Pride: banned by law, backed by love
Orbán banned pride. But we went anyway.
In our latest podcast, we sat down with Marc Angel, who joined the march along with 200,000 Hungarians. We talked about freedom, tolerance, sex education, and the fight for equality.
Housing: Fundamental Right, Not a Dream
Housing is a human right. But it's too often simply a commodity.
In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Andreas Schieder, Member of the European Parliament and S&D spokesperson on housing, to tackle one of the most urgent issues facing people across Europe: affordable housing.
From rent hikes and speculation to social housing and EU-level solutions, we explore what’s being done—and wh
S&D In Progress: Not One Step Backwards
We need to put feminism at the heart of everything we do. And not allow not even one step back.
Lina Gálvez MEP is the chair of the EU Parliament’s women’s rights committee. Here she is in conversation with Delara Burkhardt MEP for S&D In Progress.
Seeds of Hope: A Palestinian and an Israeli talk about the two state solution
After Hamas' terrorist attack on October 7, it's been over a year of Israel's indiscriminate attacks on Gaza. Israel has bombed schools, hospitals and killed so many innocent people in Gaza, including thousands of children. In the West Bank and Jerusalem and now Lebanon, Netanhayu's campaign of revenge continues. It's a bleak picture.
But there are some working for peace. In the latest podcast,
Elon's internet or the people's? Making global rules for social media
We refuse to let Elon Musk and friends set the rules online. The internet is a public space and a public good. We sat down with our MEPs Alex Saliba, Christel Schaldemose and Laura Ballarín in our latest podcast to discuss UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' call for the enforcement of worldwide norms.
S&D: In Progress with Chloé Ridel And Thomas Bajada
What's it like to be catapulted from your country to Brussels/Strasbourg to work as a MEP? We sat down with new MEPs Chloé Ridel and Thomas Bajada to unpack their first experiences in this new edition of our podcast.
Disability rights: Towards a more inclusive Union
New EU disability cards are a milestone moment. In our latest podcast, we discussed the fight for a more equal Union.
With João Albuquerque, Olivia Iglesias, Laura Coccia and Marie Denninghaus.
Why should Europe step up its support for Ukraine?
It's been two years since Putin started his war of aggression against Ukraine. Two years of terror, bloodshed and destruction.
Today Ukraine continues to stand strong against the Russian aggressor, but there is a risk of “Ukraine fatigue” seeping in amongst some allies. Not in the S&D Group!
In our latest podcast, with Pedro Marques and Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, we discuss the situation in Ukra
Fighting for a consent-based definition of rape
We're fighting to define rape as sex without consent on an EU level. Because only yes means yes.
We spoke to Evin Incir MEP, Kristine Holst and Pina Picerno MEP about the fight to include a consent-based definition of rape in the EU's ending gender-based violence directive.
Making Europe work for the people: on building a social union
With the social union, we're protecting people from the challenges of our time. We spoke to Agnes Jongerius, Esther Lynch and Teresa Ribera about making the economy work for the workers, not just the bosses.
A New Dawn for Poland
Polish people voted for change, to stop the autocratic drift by PiS and to bring Poland back to its rightful place: the heart of Europe.
We spoke to Robert Biedron and Prof Marek Belka in Strasbourg about how to start cleaning up the mess after 8 dark years of PiS rule.
Is the government reading your messages?
Three former IDF soldiers built spyware - Pegasus - that allows governments to spy on journalists, opposition politicians - anyone they don't like. The European Parliament set up the PEGA committee to investigate, leading to a report calling for pan-European legislation to protect our fundamental rights ✊ 🇪🇺
The Nature Restoration Law passed!
With a progressive majority, we passed the Nature Restoration Law.
We spoke to César Luena and Mohammed Chahim about the fight to protect Europe's nature in the latest episode of our podcast.
The Good Friday Agreement: The EU’s role in building peace
The Troubles, Northern Ireland’s bloody conflict, claimed the lives of over three and a half thousand people. But then, it ended.
The late John Hume won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement, a revolutionary peace accord.
We spoke to Claire Hanna MP in Belfast and our MEPs in Brussels about the EU's role in bringing peace, and the future for Northern
AI is here. What do progressives do?
AI is here. How do we make sure it helps people be more free? How do we protect workers and consumers? We discussed the progressive response to AI in our latest podcast.
No more products made with forced labour in our shops
We don’t have the power to end forced labour around the world tomorrow. But we are the largest market in the world, and as such the EU has a lot of power. We can stop the EU from importing such products, and by doing so end the shameful practice of forced labour.
The Commission has proposed a new law to prevent products made with forced labour from entering the EU market. In our latest podcast we
Breaking the cordon sanitaire: the whitewashing of the far right
We thought the far right in power was something consigned to history. But now they're back in government, with the support of the so called moderate right and centrists.
Your bills triple - and so do their profits. Time for a windfall tax
How is it even possible that energy prices are rocketing while we can't pay our bills?
Should you speculate on energy? Should you speculate on bread and food?
We sat down with Mohammed Chahim and Biljana Borzan to discuss the solution to the energy price crisis.
Are nuclear and gas green energy sources?
Apparently fossil gas and nuclear are green energy sources, or at least that's what the European Commission recently forced through.
But Paul Tang remains optimistic about the battle to make finance sustainable. We interviewed him in Brussels for the latest episode of Take a Left.
Pride month: party or protest?
June is pride month and what better occasion to talk about equal rights for LGBTQ+ people and keep raising political awareness on the current issues the community is still facing.
We talked about LGBT issues and initiatives across the EU with Marc Angel, Robert Biedroń and Katrin Hugendubel.
Building a fairer digital market
Huge companies control the internet, changing the rules to suit themselves. It's hardly a market.
We spoke to René Repasi about what we're doing to regulate "the digital wild west" in our latest podcast.
In companies we trust?
Self regulation has failed. Now it's time for the EU to ensure companies check their value chains for human rights abuses and environmental failures.
Listening to citizens: reflecting on the Conference on the Future of Europe
Over the last year, people from across the EU took part in one of the biggest democratic projects in history. The Conference on the Future of Europe just presented its proposals to the EU.
It remains to be seen which are taken into account and actually implemented. We are committed to taking their ideas forward and making them a reality. We’ll keep fighting to turn these proposals into reality. S
How to counter the Kremlin's interference and disinformation
"We don't want to create a ministry of truth, but we do need to protect our open society from foreign hostile actors."
Russia's war on Ukraine throws into sharp relief the need to counter foreign interference and disinformation.
We spoke with Raphaël Glucksmann MEP and Andreas Schieder MEP about the findings of the EU Parliament's Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Proc
Broad brushstrokes - social democracy in the EU, halfway between elections
It's halfway between EU elections and great chance to reflect on what we've achieved - and what's left to do.
We caught up with S&D President, Iratxe García Pérez, and Vice President Pedro Marques about to reflect on the challenges ahead.
Improving the rights of platform workers
Platforms circumvent labour laws, exploiting their workers.
The only way we can really make a difference is by changing the social legislation, according to Agnes Jongerius, who is working on an EU level to ensure that platforms treat their workers as workers.
Inside COP26 with Mohammed Chahim
Was COP26 a catastrophic failure or a landmark achievement? What should progressives push for in climate talks?
We spoke to Mohammed Chahim about why he's cautiously optimistic.
What can the EU do about rising energy bills? With Dan Nica MEP
Natural gas costs five times more than last year and ordinary people are bearing the brunt of the price hike. What can governments do? What can the EU do?
We spoke to Dan Nica MEP and Anna Martin from BEUC to understand the crisis and what has to happen now.
The Red Wave builds up in Germany with Jens Geier and Udo Bullman
The SPD's dramatic comeback is encouraging social democrats across Europe. We spoke to Jens Geier and Udo Bullman about how it happened, and what it means for Europe.
"You will not intimidate us" How we won a victory for women's rights with Fred Matic
"Abortion is a difficult choice, probably the most difficult choice possible ... but it must remain a choice," said Mr Fred Matic, the MEP who authored an historic resolution on sexual health and reproductive rights. Despite firm opposition, we passed a resolution calling on all EU member states to decriminalise abortion and ensure full Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Here's how we did
