Follow the Money: The Podcast

How US lobbying helped derail Europe’s supply chain rules 10.06.2026 23m

When the EU passed its corporate sustainability legislation in 2023, it was hailed as a game-changer for holding companies accountable for abuses in their supply chains. But the law was quickly diluted after industry lobbying. Journalist Hans Wetzels obtained leaked documents suggesting that the U-turn was largely driven by pressure from Washington.

Betting billions on rising food prices in wartime 03.06.2026 21m

The Iran war has upended oil and gas markets and disrupted global supply chains. But the fallout may affect something more fundamental: the price of food. Journalists Ties Gijzel, Remy Koens, and Jan Daalder found that investors have bet billions on agricultural commodities. What could this mean for global food security?

The cost of influencing EU politics 27.05.2026 24m

Manfred Weber is one of the most powerful lawmakers in Brussels. Under his leadership, Europe’s top political family hired two consultants with close ties to Greece’s ruling party. Journalist Simon Van Dorpe found that more than €500,000 was spent in six months, yet results were limited. The affair has raised questions about political spending in the EU and oversight by the European Parliament.

The billion-euro battle over workers’ wages 20.05.2026 25m

The Dutch economy runs on low-paid temporary workers, including large numbers of migrants from countries such as Bulgaria, Poland, and Ukraine. But journalist Lise Witteman found that employment agencies may have underpaid them, in breach of EU law. The sector could now face a bill worth billions of euros as a mass lawsuit looms.

From community leaders to suspected smugglers 13.05.2026 23m

For years, Senegalese community leaders Cheikh Sy and Njouda Ndiaye warned people about the deadly risks of migration to Europe. Then they themselves were arrested for migrant smuggling. Reporter Andrei Popoviciu uncovered that their case is part of a wider EU-funded crackdown on migration.

Unmasking the car industry's dirty deals 06.05.2026 25m

A decade ago, Volkswagen was caught cheating emissions tests, putting far more toxic cars on the road than anyone knew. Journalist Peter Teffer got a rare glimpse into corporate emails and uncovered how Dieselgate wasn't the only time that carmakers tried to outsmart regulators.

The colonial roots of Europe’s flower market 29.04.2026 26m

Europe’s lucrative flower market is rooted in a colonial past, built on genetic material taken from the Global South and commercialised by Western companies. While the multi-billion-euro industry continues to flourish, virtually nothing flows back to the developing nations where the plants originated. Journalist Dylan Carter investigates the imbalance behind the blooms in our homes. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-flower-industry-keeps-colonial-system-blooming Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Download the FTM app: App Store ➪ https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/follow-the-money/id1232284535 Google Play ➪ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.ftm.ftmpulse&hl=en Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

How Russian oligarchs are suing Ukraine in wartime 01.04.2026 30m

In the midst of war, Russian oligarchs are suing Ukraine – not in Moscow, not in Kyiv, but through European trade treaties and arbitration courts in Washington. What might sound like a legal technicality is actually part of a powerful global mechanism known as ISDS, which allows corporations to sue governments for billions over lost profits. Journalists Alistair Keepe and Hans Wetzels take us inside this opaque system, revealing how it quietly shapes public policy on a global scale.

Big Tobacco shows Big Alcohol how to lobby 25.03.2026 22m

Alcohol and tobacco are both linked to serious disease, yet the industries have spent decades casting doubt on the risks. Journalist Irene van den Berg revealed how cigarette giants invested heavily in treatment for smoking-related conditions and funded scientific research to widen their influence. Just months later, she uncovered how Big Booze has used the same playbook as Big Tobacco to downplay growing public health concerns.

Special: Our toxic obsession with the US 18.03.2026 40m

From binge-watching your favorite soap opera to the music you consume: our lives would be unthinkable without US culture. But what might seem like a harmless influence harbours dangerous tendencies for Europe’s economic and military fate, argues European-American journalist and author Dave Keating in this special episode. Related stories ➪ ftm.eu/articles/europe-independence-us-interview-dave-keating Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

How not to save the planet 11.03.2026 28m

Carbon credits are marketed as a simple solution to climate change: companies can offset CO₂ by funding green initiatives such as forest protection and tree planting. Yet many of these offsets have been exposed as ineffective at cutting emissions, or even harmful. Follow the Money reporters Mira Sys and Ties Gijzel explain how this market really works – and why we shouldn’t bank on it to protect our planet.

Who’s the man aiming to oust Orbán? 04.03.2026 23m

Hungary is heading into a pivotal election. After 16 years in power, Viktor Orbán faces his most serious challenger yet. Péter Magyar emerged out of the blue and quickly transformed himself into the face of the opposition. But who is he really? Hungarian journalist Patrik Galavits traces the rise of the man expected to become the country’s next premier – and explains what that could mean for Hungary and Europe. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/orban-main-rival-hungary-brussels-elections-no-trust-just-yet Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

The lottery scandal that shook Brussels 25.02.2026 25m

As the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders was tasked with defending the rule of law across the EU. But days after leaving office, his home was raided as part of a money laundering probe. Journalist Simon Van Dorpe unpacks the story of one of Europe’s most influential politicians – and his fall from grace. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/reynders-charged-in-money-laundering-probe https://www.ftm.eu/articles/didier-reynders-ally-target-corruption-probe https://www.ftm.eu/articles/reynders-money-laundering-what-we-know-so-far https://www.ftm.eu/articles/european-commissioner-didier-reynders-investigated-for-alleged-fraud Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

The EU's lost battle over media power 18.02.2026 19m

Before Hungarian premier Viktor Orbán dismantled Hungary’s independent press, before media tycoons conglomerated power across Europe, there was a chance to stop it all. Our podcast goes behind the scenes of an investigation that found secret letters and lobbying that killed a plan to protect Europe’s media.

European money pushes Cambodians into despair 11.02.2026 22m

Microloans were meant to lift people out of poverty. But in Cambodia, they’ve pushed families into crushing debt – and in some cases, even to suicide. Reporters Leila Goldstein and Phon Sothyroth travelled across the country to investigate how European development institutions helped fuel a system that profits from desperation. Content warning: This episode discusses suicide.

How we tracked soldiers on Tinder 04.02.2026 29m

Soldiers are no strangers to danger. But what if they’re putting themselves, and national security, at risk by swiping on Tinder? Journalists Dimitri Tokmetzis, Sebastiaan Brommersma, and Martijn Reuvers revealed how data from Tinder can be used to track where soldiers are and even find out where they live.

See you in 2026! 24.12.2025 1m

We’re taking a short podcast break and will be back early next year! Got any tips, feedback, or comments? Email us at emma.du.chatinier@ftm.eu Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/bitcoin-mining-in-congo-rainforest-thanks-to-eu https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-health-data-us-firm-israel-spies https://www.ftm.eu/articles/google-antitrust-eu-us-regulators? Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

Europe’s second-hand clothing crisis 17.12.2025 25m

Donating old clothes or buying second-hand is widely seen as eco-friendly. Yet an FTM investigation reveals a more complicated – and polluting – reality. Journalists Helena Rodríguez Gómez, Raluca Besliu, and Vittoria Torsello tracked clothes donated across the EU. The garments travelled thousands of kilometres, passed through special economic zones, and in some cases even returned to Europe – exposing an industry in deep crisis. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-second-hand-clothes-trade-carbon-emissions 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗧𝗠 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

The hidden U.S. influence on Europe’s policymaking 10.12.2025 25m

Think tanks present themselves as neutral institutions shaping Europe’s policy debates. But an investigation by FTM paints a different picture. Journalists Salsabil Fayed, Alistair Keepe and Ada Homolova found that Brussels’ most influential think tanks receive a third of their funding from U.S. sources – from philanthropists to major tech firms. This gives American interests a little-known but significant foothold in the EU’s policy arena.

Plenty of money (but not for you) 03.12.2025 30m

Money shapes nearly every part of our lives, but few of us understand how it really works. In his upcoming book Plenty of Money (But Not for You), journalist Thomas Bollen exposes the hidden machinery of money, and the power wielded by commercial banks. His research demonstrates why real reform has stalled, and what it would take to regain control of the financial system.