The Continental Rift

Fresh Lens

As the US and Europe divorce, who gets what? And what comes next?

A European President & American comedian: informed & irreverent takes on the latest, in less time than it takes to commute, cook or bedtime scroll.

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11 episodes
Updated Friday

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Episodes11

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Friday · 35 min
Kill Switches & Neanderthals
Can America switch Europe off? Why does the Kremlin dread August? And who walked out on whom at the UN? A European President & US comedian make sense of the continental rift. More Information Europe is the fastest-warming continent, heating at roughly twice the global average since the 1980s (WMO / Copernicus). The Arctic warms faster still, and the heaviest human impacts fall elsewhere. #AmericaAlone. This X post and hashtag came from the official X account of France’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva (25 July). The mission is headed by France’s ambassador; the post was institutional, not personal. Elbridge Colby is the Under Secretary of War for Policy — the Pentagon’s top policy official (formerly titled Under Secretary of Defense for Policy). The review he announced is officially the Europe Posture Review. The UK has a new Prime Minister because under the UK’s parliamentary system it is the winning political party won power, not an individual. Whomever is the leader of the ruling party becomes (by royal ascent) the King’s Prime Minister. Kier Starmer lost his party’s leadership. Andy Burnham won an election to become a Member of Parliament and then gained (unopposed) his party’s leadership and therefore becomes the UK’s 6th Prime Minister in 10 years. The European Commission fined Google €890 million on 23 July under the Digital Markets Act for self-preferencing in search and app-store services. Trump announced a Section 301 tariff investigation the next day. For more, check out our previous episode Fines & Frugals On 12 June 2026, 3 days after it was launched, the US government imposed export controls on Anthropic’s new Claude Fable model on national-security grounds; unable to verify nationality in real time, Anthropic suspended access for everyone. 30th June, the Commerce Department lifted its restrictions and global access resumed on 1 July. A handful of island states exceed Europe on the absolute measure of electricity prices, though EU industrial electricity runs 2-3x US prices and German, Danish and Irish household electricity prices rank near the top globally. In digitalisation of government Germany ranks 21st out 27 EU countries. Cro-Magnon vs Neanderthals. "Cro-Magnon" is a 19th century label, taken from the name of the rock shelter in the Dordogne, France where the first skeletons were found in 1868. They are modern humans. Neanderthal brains were as large as ours (or larger) and exhibited complex behaviour. Everyone of non-African descent carries roughly 1–2% Neanderthal DNA. Recent research argues that unsustainable demographics resulted in Neanderthals being absorbed into far larger incoming populations of Homo sapiens amid a volatile climate. One group was too small and too isolated to survive the arrival of a new, bigger, better-connected group. Various European governments are weaning themselves, piecemeal, off US tech: France: all ministries must file plans to move 2.5 million government computers to Linux by autumn 2026; Teams and Zoom to be replaced by the French-hosted Visio by 2027; national health-data platform to leave US-law-exposed infrastructure by end-2026. Germany: Schleswig-Holstein has moved ~30,000 government workplaces (≈80%) to Linux and open-source office software, saving over €15m in licences. Denmark: the Digital Affairs Ministry is switching to LibreOffice Austria: the armed forces have completed their move off Microsoft Office. Italy: the defence ministry is migrating off 150,000 PCs (€29m projected savings). The European Parliament: voted 471–68 in January 2026 for a resolution to directing the Commission to map the EU’s dependencies. Chapters 00:00:00 Backstory 00:01:30 Today's topics 00:02:56 Russia's Black August 00:06:14 Europe's fires 00:09:38 US walkout on France 00:13:15 US's Europe Posture Review 00:18:52 UK's new Prime Minister 00:21:40 Primer: European Tech 00:34:59 Credits Youtube @TheContinentalRift (https://www.youtube.com/@TheContinentalRift) Instagram @thecontinentalriftpod (https://www.instagram.com/thecontinentalriftpod/) X @ContRiftShow (https://x.com/ContRiftShow) CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
July 24 · 37 min
Fines & Frugals
A European President & US comedian: can you regulate your way to greatness, or only fine the people (ahem, Google) who got there first? 2 years after former Italian PM & ECB President Mario Draghi laid out the path to European greatness, how’s it going and what’s the obstacle to progress? This is your primer for the summer. Updates & Clarifications Google’s EU fines: Hours after we recorded, the EU announced a €890 million fine, its first fine under the Digital Markets Act. Google's previous EU antitrust fines include €2.42bn (Shopping, 2017), €4.34bn (Android, 2018 — cut to €4.1bn on appeal and confirmed by the EU's top court this month), €1.49bn (AdSense, 2019 — annulled on appeal in 2024), and €2.95bn (adtech, 2025). EU’s 21st Russia sanctions package: this passed the afternoon after Google was fined. Greece got its compromise: EU ships can keep carrying Russian LNG to non-EU countries under contracts signed before the full-scale invasion, capped at current volumes and reviewed annually; existing business protected, no new business allowed. The visa ban on Russian soldiers was deferred (after objections led by France and Italy). Austria dropped its veto after the Raiffeisen-related measures were scaled back (its demand to compensate the bank against frozen Russian assets was not granted). New US Tariffs: the day after recording the Trump administration replaced it’s 10% tarrfis (which in turn replaced its unlawful previous triff regime) it with new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, explicitly including the EU, on the stated grounds of lax enforcement of forced-labour import bans. That's the "new tariffs" Toomas said were coming. The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the US justification groundless, on being asked whether the EU expected to be included: "Who can keep track of the tariffs going on and off?" The Frugals: officially Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. Finland is counted as the honorary fifth. The book Toomas recommends is What the Dormouse Said by John Markoff Chapters 00:00:00 Introdcuction 00:01:30 This week's show 00:03:04 EU & Google tussle (again) 00:04:45 New US tariffs (strap in) 00:06:16 EU Sanctions Russia (why the delay?) 00:10:51 Ukraine defense shakeup 00:14:54 Dragi Report: backgrounder 00:16:27 "Euro-poors" & the veto problem 00:21:30 Industrial policy, climate policy & single market 00:26:10 How much!? (investment & borrowing) 00:35:37 When is this done? Youtube @TheContinentalRift (https://www.youtube.com/@TheContinentalRift) Instagram @thecontinentalriftpod (https://www.instagram.com/thecontinentalriftpod/) X @ContRiftShow (https://x.com/ContRiftShow) CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
July 17 · 33 min
Sabotage & Sponsorship
How is Moscow sabotaging Europe and why is Washington bankrolling Europe’s pro-Putin opposition? A European President & an American comedian what on earth is going on (and what comes next). Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:51 NATO Summit - the fallout 00:10:15 US funds MAGA in Europe 00:15:53 Russsia's Hybrid War against Europe 00:24:21 Why it's hard for Europe to Sanction Russia 00:32:03 Credits Youtube @TheContinentalRift (https://www.youtube.com/@TheContinentalRift) Instagram @thecontinentalriftpod (https://www.instagram.com/thecontinentalriftpod/) X @ContRiftShow (https://x.com/ContRiftShow) CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
July 11 · 33 min
Triggers & Tags
NATO is saved! Or was it one big Trumpian Freudian slip as the US Prez cuts off trade with Spain (can he?) and calls Zelensky “Putin”? And while French courts decide a convicted embezzler can run for President, what will the French themselves decide? A European President & an American comedian what on earth is going on (and what comes next). Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:30 Coming up... 00:02:39 NATO Summit debrief 00:16:39 Marine le Pen: Resurrection 00:21:37 Europe's Right Wing Parties 00:23:33 Nigel Farage 00:26:34 Previous Stories UPDATE 00:29:32 World Cup brouhaha 00:32:14 Credits Youtube @TheContinentalRift (https://www.youtube.com/@TheContinentalRift) Instagram @thecontinentalriftpod (https://www.instagram.com/thecontinentalriftpod/) Facebook TheContinentalRift (https://www.facebook.com/TheContinentalRift/) X @ContRiftShow (https://x.com/ContRiftShow) CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
July 3 · 29 min
No-shows & Neutrals
Will Trump actually show up to the NATO summit and is Washington really floating a "defence loyalty programme"? Also, can neutral Ireland credibly chair Europe's defence debate as it takes the EU chair? A former President & a comedian on what's going on and what comes next. Subscribe so you don't miss our Ankara NATO summit debrief next week. CLARIFICATIONS Irish corporate tax — Ireland had the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU when the American tech giants set up their European headquarters there. Today the EU's lowest headline rates are Hungary's (9%) and Amazon's European HQ is in Luxembourg, not Ireland. Alumina and Rusal — Sweden's tax authority, Skatteverket, has ruled that Rusal's European operations (which include the Irish plant) should fall under EU sanctions, and froze €5.1m in the tax account of its Swedish smelter, Kubal. It's an agency ruling with EU-wide implications rather than a formal Swedish Government request for action to the EU. Ireland's waters — Ireland's waters (not coastline) make up roughly 16% of the EU's total. NATO — The Secretary General’s term is 4 years and, following Sweden’s accession in 2024, the organisation now has 32 members. Putin's yacht — Since this episode was published, latest reporting is that the yarcht is heading to the Artic, not the Med. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:30 Putin's yacht 00:05:05 NATO Summit: the pre-amble 00:13:10 Toomas' dramatic NATO Summit 00:15:16 Ireland takes the EU Presidency 00:23:05 Revisit: The Balkan-US grift 00:26:52 Was the American Revolution all about defence spending? 00:28:19 Credits Youtube @TheContinentalRift (https://www.youtube.com/@TheContinentalRift) Instagram @thecontinentalriftpod (https://www.instagram.com/thecontinentalriftpod/) Facebook TheContinentalRift (https://www.facebook.com/TheContinentalRift/) X @ContRiftShow (https://x.com/ContRiftShow) CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts - https://conanroberts.com/Homepage Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella https://www.freshlens.film/ © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
June 28 · 27 min
Exes & Selfies
Ten years (and 6, soon 7, Prime Ministers) later was Brexit worth it and how did it change Europe? Also, why is Europe's hard right suddenly speed-walking away from Donald Trump? A former President & a comedian on what's going on and what comes next. CLARIFICATION Zelensky was not stripped of Poland’s Order of Merit, but of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honour, awarded to him in 2023 by then-President Andrzej Duda. Some Ukrainian officials returned Order of Merit decorations, while former Ukrainian presidents also returned their Polish honours in solidarity. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:30 Heatwave 00:03:55 EU's Chief Diplomat 00:07:11 Ukraine vs Poland 00:09:55 Ukraine's EU Accession vs Hungary 00:11:20 Brexit Vote, 10 years on 00:18:05 Meloni vs Trump 00:25:42 Outro Youtube @TheContinentalRift Instagram @thecontinentalriftpod Facebook TheContinentalRift X @ContRiftShow CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
June 19 · 19 min
Tractors and Tantrums
A comedian and a former president walk into Europe's biggest mess. American comedian Andy Valvur’s oldest friend, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, grew up to become President of Estonia. Now, as the transatlantic alliance comes apart, The Continental Rift is their weekly, irreverent take on European geopolitics: the EU, NATO, Trump, Russia, and what comes next. Serious politics, questionable hosts. New episodes weekly. This week EUBS asks why… … did the US embassy quietly killed the dinners where diplomacy actually happens? And why do the Europeans count getting tariffed as a win? Also… Ukraine gets to try to join the EU, but can you fill in Europe’s paperwork while fighting for survival (and will French farmers be happy to acept. farming superpower into their club)? And at the G7 in Évian, has holding the free world together really come down to keeping one man in a good mood? Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:30 EUBS: American diplomacy dinners end 00:03:21 EUBS: US EU trade deal ratified 00:04:37 Ukraine's accession to the EU 00:12:25 G7 in Evian 00:15:43 EUtopia 00:18:05 Credits CREDITS Editor Conan Roberts Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
June 12 · 25 min
Polls, Pots & Flamingos
A comedian & ex President (of Estonia, twice) - childhood buddies, American raised now living in Europe - riff on the 'divorce' between the US & Europe. Serious politics, questionable hosts. This week EUBS asks why… does Pete Hegseth equate the allied (including US) storming the Normandy beaches on D-Day to liberate Europe from Nazi tyranny with migrants fleeing war; whether dressing some of his kids in US military uniform is good “optics”, and why the EU Parliament hosts groups with odd beliefs. Also… Is America Europe’s friend or, er… not? https://ecfr.eu/publication/home-alone-europeans-are-ready-to-defend-themselves/ Ireland’s alumina scandal https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/06/08/why-ireland-is-under-fire-over-its-alumina-exports-to-russia https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/06/09/kaja-kallas-urges-ireland-to-get-the-facts-straight-on-alumina-sales-to-russia Albania gets in a mess with Kushner & EU https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/5/why-the-kushners-plan-to-build-an-albanian-resort-has-sparked-protests Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:32 America, friend or....not? 00:05:12 EUBS 00:11:09 Ireland's alumina scandal 00:16:05 Albania's Kushner Resort 00:22:15 Other fun stuff & looking ahead CREDITS Editor Valter Nõmm Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
June 6 · 33 min
Tankers & Cash
A comedian & ex President (of Estonia, twice) - childhood buddies, American raised now living in Europe - riff on the 'divorce' between the US & Europe. Serious politics, questionable hosts. This week EUBS asks why… The EU insists on a fleet of EVs that cannot make the trip between Brussels and Strasbourg in on a single charge; why Albanians are protesting a Kushner real estate development and why Hungary’s President is appealing to European institutions to help him stay in post. Also… Russia’s Shadow Tanker Fleet https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/the-shadow-fleet-is-undermining-the-maritime-order-more-brazenly-than-ever/ https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-06-01/frances-macron-says-french-navy-boarded-russia-linked-oil-tanker https://kyivindependent.com/eus-last-shipyard-servicing-russian-lng-fleet-may-repair-up-to-6-vessels-before-ban-report-says/ Europe’s Single Capital Market https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-10-2025-0124_EN.html https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-29/eu-s-economic-powers-strike-deal-to-push-capital-markets-merger https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/05/asml-ceo-christophe-fouquet-no-one-is-coming-for-us/ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:02:40 EUBS: EU's EV fleet, Hungary's President & Albania protests Kushners 00:10:54 Russia's Show Tanker Fleet 00:19:27 Baby Steps to joined up Capital Markets 00:30:38 Next week... 00:32:32 Credits CREDITS Editor Valter Nõmm Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Music by Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved
May 31 · 31 min
Drones & The AntiChrist
A comedian & ex President (of Estonia, twice) - childhood buddies, American raised now living in Europe - riff on the 'divorce' between the US & Europe. Serious politics, questionable hosts. This week… Drones fall on Baltics & Finland while US disengages https://novayagazeta.eu/en/articles/2026/05/21/at-least-24-drone-incidents-recorded-in-the-baltic-states-since-start-of-2025-en-news https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/05/26/report-us-to-cut-strategic-bombers-and-warships-available-to-nato-in-a-crisis/ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/27/uk-spy-chief-gchq-russia-china-us-cyber-attack-security.html The Pope, Peter Thiel & the AntiChrist https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html https://firstthings.com/when-envy-turns-apocalyptic/ https://thecatholicherald.com/article/is-magnifica-humanitas-aimed-at-peter-thiels-techno-political-empire Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Editor Valter Nõmm Music Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:28 Background to the Pod 00:04:27 Europe-US relationship when Toomas was President 00:05:55 Drones falling on the Baltics 00:10:08 Russian threatens, US disengages 00:19:04 The Pope, Peter Thiel & the AntiChrist 00:28:18 Next week... 00:30:36 credits
May 31 · 1 min
The Continental Rift (trailer)
The relationship keeping the free world together is falling apart. I’m Andy, a comedian. My oldest buddy - since toddlerhood - became a two-term European president. We grew up in the US as refugee kids (the USSR erased our country from the map), but now we live in Europe. As the EU and the US 'divorce' we decided to stop keeping our conversations to ourselves. You're welcome. The Continental Rift: serious politics, questionable hosts. Animation & Design Roland Seer - Tartu Multifilm @rolandseer Editor Valter Nõmm Music Paabel @paabeltheband (Estonian folk-fusion) Executive Producer Fred Casella © Fresh Lens Film Sàrl 2026 all rights reserved