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The Continental Rift

Fresh Lens 5 Episodes Oct 9, 2026

The Continental Rift is a podcast hosted by comedian Andy Valvur and former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves. It explores the growing divide between the United States and Europe, examining the political and historical ties that have bound them together. The hosts bring a mix of serious political analysis and personal anecdotes, drawing on their own experiences as Estonians who were saved by America during the Soviet era. The show questions what will happen as the transatlantic alliance weakens and who will benefit from the rift.

Episodes

Spies, Lies and Disinformation Oct 9, 2026 2259 Germany’s former spy chief is arrested on suspicion of treason, while ex-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder joins Putin in Moscow for his birthday. Can America and Europe still trust Berlin with their secrets? And as Marco Rubio tours Europe, why did the EU, Lithuania and Canada drop their support for a disinformation conference: who’s afraid of the truth? An EU President and an American comedian untangl

Can the US topple any government? Oct 2, 2026 2112 Athens is spooked: did the US Ambassador just boast about toppling governments(!)? And is America bringing in Russia from the diplomatic deep freeze? (Can Europe do anything about it?) An EU President and an American comedian untangle this week's continental rift. Chapters 00:00:00 This week's Continental Rift 00:00:59 The Rifty back story 00:02:32 Hello from Gdańsk 00:03:44 Will Trump ban diesel

What did Greenland really cost? Sep 25, 2026 1743 Greenland, Belarus potash and Russian oligarchs: everything has a price this week. What did Washington get from a Greenland defence deal with no end date? And can EU sanctions be bargained with, now they’ve taken Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman off the list? Chapters 00:00:00 This week's Continental Rift 00:00:51 The Rifty Backstory 00:02:39 German State Elections: the Left, the AfD and Me

Saboteurs & Suitors Sep 18, 2026 1645 Is von der Leyen’s proposed EU Security Council an illusion or a realistic response to Russian sabotage? And will her offer of "associate membership" to Canada trigger an all-out trade war with Donald Trump? A European President and an American comedian untangle this week’s continental rift. Chapters 00:00:00 This week's Continental Rift 00:01:21 The Rifty Backstory 00:03:06 Sweden Election R

Aspirations & Annexations Sep 12, 2026 2323 When Germany’s far-right wins, Trump posts "MGGA" and leaks reveal US pressuring NATO allies to dismantle the International Criminal Court, should Europe confront, or accommodate its antagonists? A European President and an American comedian untangle this week’s continental rift. Chapters 00:00:00 This week's Continental Rift 00:01:06 The Rifty Back Story 00:03:02 Far Right AfD Wins 00:13:21

Explosives & Eggs (soft ones) Sep 4, 2026 2057 Why would Washington spend $4 million on Europe's right-wing media while inviting Russia's finance minister back to the G20? And why Is Germany allowing US company to build a European-sourced cruise missile near Leipzig? A European President and an American comedian untangle this week’s continental rift. Chapters 00:00:00 This week's Continental Rift 00:01:16 Continental Rift backstory 00:02:48 I

Mackerel & Missiles Aug 28, 2026 1848 Why does one of the world’s safest countries feel vulnerable under American protection? And why does Canada — with the world's longest undefended border — seem to agree, just as the CIA drops in on Moscow? A European President and an American comedian untangle this week’s continental rift. Chapters 00:00:00 Background 00:01:30 Introduction 00:02:45 Siim Kallas 00:03:43 Iceland EU vote 00:1

Putsch & Payback Aug 21, 2026 2105 Why can Washington ‘switch off’ a Japanese judge? And why does that same switch terrify 74% of Europe's business leaders? A European President & American comedian on how this week’s events underscores the difficult dependency Europe has on the US. More Information *The ICC* The March 2023 ICC arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin was issued by a three-judge chamber on which Tomoko Akane sat. She

Euros & Explosives Aug 14, 2026 2369 If Russia flies an explosive drone into a cargo plane in Germany does Article 5 make a sound? And what do you call it when America sells (lots of) euros and only tells Europe afterwards? A European President & American Comedian on Europe, the US and what comes next. Additional Notes Ceuta - several thousand migrants remain, including about 1,300 unaccompanied minors; death toll is at least 8

Spies & Stampedes Aug 7, 2026 2168 Who are Europe’s best spies? And did any of them predict last weekend’s crisis in Ceuta? A European President and an American comedian disentangle the migration mess, European pile-on and American meddling that contributed to the Crisis in Ceuta. Show Notes Spies 1 - this was work done by the French Magazine L’Express and our discussion reflected that article. The original (pay-walled, English ver

Kill Switches & Neanderthals Jul 31, 2026 2129 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. #America

Fines & Frugals Jul 24, 2026 2236 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 rec

Sabotage & Sponsorship Jul 17, 2026 1988 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:

Triggers & Tags Jul 11, 2026 2006 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

No-shows & Neutrals Jul 3, 2026 1753 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

Exes & Selfies Jun 28, 2026 1640 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

Tractors and Tantrums Jun 19, 2026 1145 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 epis

Polls, Pots & Flamingos Jun 12, 2026 1519 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 hi

Tankers & Cash Jun 6, 2026 1999 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

Drones & The AntiChrist May 31, 2026 1868 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:/

The Continental Rift (trailer) May 31, 2026 92 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 Ri

The Continental Rift

Episodes

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