Trump’s return to the Oval Office is more than a political comeback, it is evidence of how much post-truth has changed since 2016. The narrative then was that Trump rode a wave of misinformation straight into the White House. But in 2025, this is the story of a candidate whose every claim, and every scandal has been broadcast and dissected for nearly a decade. What’s changed? Populist leaders like Trump aren’t just relying on disinformation to win elections; they use it as a governing strategy. And now, with powerful allies at their side in the form of tech moguls.

Guest Editor: Saul Newman, Professor of Politics, Goldsmiths University London

Guests: Joao Magalhaes, Assistant Professor in Media, Politics and Democracy at the Center for Media and Journalism Studies, University of Groningen & Diara J. Townes, engagement journalist and research consultant for the Disinfo Defense League, a project of the Media Democracy Fund.

Host: Lucas Proto, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

Production: Franco Delle Donne (Rombo Podcasts)

The Digital Services Act, the EU’s digital regulation master stone, is designed with the intention of tackling content affecting democratic political debate without limiting free speech. But things get more complicated when it comes to so-called “harmful content” or “disinformation”: the line between keeping people safe and stifling free speech remains a difficult one to navigate. Join us for a discussion on the dilemmas in regulatory responses to disinformation.

Guest editor: Luis Bouza García, Associate Professor Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Guests: Joan Barata Senior Legal Fellow for The Future of Free Speech Project, Vanderbilt University & Jan Penfrat is Senior Policy Advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi).

Host: Lucas Proto (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid).

Sound: Franco Delle Donne (Rombo Podcasts).

"Democracy Dies in Darkness" is a motto adopted by the US newspaper The Washington Post in 2017. Does democracy need to be defended in the era of post-truth politics? How, from what or whom? Does the debate on the protection from post-truth phenomena deviate attention from other major problems democracies have? Join us for a discussion of the defence of democracy in the EU in 2024.

Guest editor: Álvaro Oleart, Postodoctoral Researcher, Université libre de Bruxelles.

Guests: Richard Youngs, senior fellow in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program at Carnegie Europe and Aarti Narsee, Senior Policy and Advocacy officer at the European Civic Forum.

Host: Lucas Proto (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid).

Sound: Franco Delle Donne (Rombo Podcasts).