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Sweden in Focus

Sweden in Focus

Written by: The Local
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Sweden in Focus is The Local’s weekly podcast where we discuss the big news and talking points in Sweden as well as explore and explain the issues that impact life in the country. We also answer your essential questions and look ahead at what’s coming up.

In each episode presenter Paul O’Mahony chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local Sweden’s James Savage, Emma Löfgren, Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. They are frequently joined by other expert commentators.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Local Europe AB Politics & Government Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Will street protests stop Sweden deporting foreign workers?

    Will street protests stop Sweden deporting foreign workers?
    Jan 9 2026
    Get Membership+ to listen to all The Local's podcastsSign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+For new members: Get Membership+ Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.__In this week's episode we talk about growing protests over the deportation from Sweden of foreign workers and whether people taking to the streets is likely to have any impact on government policy.We also look at how Sweden is reacting to the capture of Venezuela’s president in a US military operation as well as US President Donald Trump’s renewed calls for his country to take control of Greenland.For Membership+ subscribers we highlight new laws that will impact our lives in Sweden in 2026, and we examine the state of play for the political parties at the start of election year.Finally we explain why Swedes traditionally wait until 20 days after Christmas before throwing out their Christmas trees.Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. The episode also features an excerpts from interviews with the Centre Party's immigration policy spokesperson Niels Paarup-Petersen and Stockholm University politics professor Jan Teorell. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:Immigration 'Sweden is my children's country': Health professionals ordered to leave after years of workDeportations spark pushback against Swedish migration reforms'Let's not kick people out of Sweden who are already contributing'Sweden's government to submit new work permit law to parliament 'in a couple of weeks'Sweden and the US'We are free': Venezuelans in Sweden split on US attackSweden in 2026LISTED: All the new laws coming into force in Sweden at the start of 202620th day of Christmas Why Swedish Christmas lasts until January 13thHow to dispose of your Christmas tree in Sweden Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
  • ‘I love Sweden but the anti-immigrant rhetoric must stop’

    ‘I love Sweden but the anti-immigrant rhetoric must stop’
    Jan 2 2026

    Instead of a news roundup Sweden in Focus this week consists of a conversation with a journalist who has contributed several articles to The Local recently charting the immigrant experience.

    Faisal Khan ended up in Sweden after life in Afghanistan became "unbearable" for him and his family. It was a country he knew little about but soon came to appreciate. Despite a rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric he's hopeful Sweden can "correct course" and focus on finding solutions to real societal problems without seeking scapegoats.

    "I love everything about Sweden. I love its bad weather. I love its bad jokes, even though I don't understand most of them. My body doesn't accept the cold weather but I'm still optimistic," he says.

    Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    41 mins
  • Sweden in Focus end of year quiz 2025

    Sweden in Focus end of year quiz 2025
    Dec 26 2025

    Join us for an end-of-year quiz as we look back at the stories that shaped Sweden in 2025.

    Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by The Local's Becky Waterton, Richard Orange and James Savage.

    The year kicked off with revelations that Sweden's national security advisor had mislaid highly sensitive documents and ended with the country's right-wing leaders meeting in the Prime Minister's home to hatch plans for election year.

    But how much do our contestants remember? And can you outperform them?

    Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    29 mins
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