The Europeans | European news, politics and culture · Katy Lee and Dominic Kraemer

Butterflies and bullied protesters

·56 min·5 clips

Katy Lee jokes about Dominic's 'boring' singing career as she welcomes producer Kat Slaslow to the show.

This episode of The Europeans features host Katie in Paris and guest Kat Slaslow, the show's producer based in Amsterdam, discussing personal routines and a major European protest. Katie is reading Primo Levi's Holocaust memoir ahead of a visit to Auschwitz, while Kat shares her ongoing experience with cold-water dipping. The conversation shifts to a large farmers' protest in Berlin that turned chaotic. Kat details her weekly cold immersion practice, noting increased energy and a sense of wonder even during icy winter conditions. Katie describes her contemplative state while preparing for a visit to Auschwitz by reading "If This Is a Man." They analyze a protest where thousands of German farmers drove tractors into Berlin to demonstrate against planned subsidy cuts. The hosts note the protest escalated as some participants attempted to storm the government quarter. Police used pepper spray and batons against a few protesters who broke through barriers, leading to injuries on both sides. Katie and Kat discuss the complex symbolism of the protest, where farmers displayed both traditional flags and controversial Reichsbürger movement flags. They explore the tension between legitimate agricultural grievances and the infiltration of anti-government extremists. The episode references specific protest slogans and the farmers' central demand to reverse the subsidy phase-out. A surprising insight is how a planned, permitted demonstration transformed into a confrontation at the Brandenburg Gate. The hosts find it notable that such a large-scale protest by a typically conservative group became a flashpoint for broader political anger. Kat's personal account of cold dipping provides a contrasting, peaceful narrative to the public unrest. The discussion reveals the layered nature of the protest, where economic distress and political radicalization intersected. The tone is conversational and reflective, blending personal anecdote with political analysis. The style is informal, marked by the hosts' candid asides and reactions. Listeners interested in contemporary European social movements and protest culture would find this episode compelling. Those seeking a purely news-focused or light-hearted discussion might find the introspective and somber moments less engaging.

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