In this week’s episode we bring you a language quiz in which we put The Local’s journalists through their paces with questions from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the quiz by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange . READ ALSO: SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden’s version of the SAT? What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden The seven stages of learning Swedish every ...
Jul 05, 2025•16 min•Ep. 252
In this special episode from the Almedalen political week on Gotland, James Savage talks to former US Ambassador Erik Ramanathan about how much the Trump presidency is really changing the relationship between Sweden and the US. He also has an interview with campaigner Khrystyna Hevchuk about the challenges faced by Ukrainian refugees in Sweden. And Helena Renström from Skellefteå municipality talks about what Northvolt's bankruptcy means for work permit holders there. Become a member at https://...
Jun 28, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 248
In this week's episode we talk about the bridge between Denmark and Sweden and how it means a lot more to one of our panelists than the sore feet she got after running across it. We also discuss what foreigners do to fit in in Sweden and why some people push back against assimilation. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Sweden and Denmark Why the Bridge Run between Sweden and...
Jun 20, 2025•14 min•Ep. 248
In this week's episode we talk about how to make the most of Sweden’s Midsummer celebrations, and we look at big changes to Sweden’s work permit system — including a new rule that could help you stay in the country if you lose your job. For Membership+ subscribers we explore why Swedes are dropping traditional surnames, racism in Swedish nightclubs, and why party leaders have been reprimanded after calling for a slow down in citizenship processing. Host Richard Orange is joined this week by regu...
Jun 14, 2025•18 min•Ep. 246
This week we talk about a new alcohol law that came into force this month and what it means for consumers. And why has a government inquiry proposed banning international adoptions and apologising to adoptees. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Alcohol What Sweden's new alcohol law means for buyers and producers Family Swedish inquiry calls for official state apology to inte...
Jun 07, 2025•14 min•Ep. 244
In this week's episode we ask why Swedish politicians are becoming more critical of Israel over the war in Gaza. We also discuss the government's plans to develop new kinds of pre-approved houses to make it easier for people to buy their own homes. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Sweden and Israel Sweden to summon Israeli ambassador to protest Israel blocking aid to Gaza ...
May 31, 2025•18 min•Ep. 242
This week we have the latest on the citizenship freeze amid signs of a thaw and we ask: Why has there been so little interest in this story from the Swedish media? We also look at a hotly debated new law criminalising the purchase of sex online. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Swedish citizenship Sweden's Migration Agency to handle oldest citizenship cases first after criti...
May 24, 2025•22 min•Ep. 240
In this week's episode we talk about why Stockholm is at loggerheads with the US Embassy over anti-diversity demands and we examine a scathing new report on how Sweden’s immigration policies are harming foreign researchers. For Membership+ subscribers we look at the ongoing saga of Sweden’s failed attempt to appoint a national security advisor after the latest pick for the job stepped down within hours over leaked photos from the Grindr app. We also have more from last week’s interview with the ...
May 17, 2025•19 min•Ep. 238
In this week's episode we talk about Sweden’s chances of winning the Eurovision Song Contest for a record-breaking eighth time with KAJ's song Bara Bada Bastu. On a related note, we immerse ourselves in sauna culture and the Swedish language as it’s spoken in Finland. We discuss new comments from Sweden’s migration minister, Johan Forssell , on the three-month deadline for job seekers on work permits and how he’s taking inspiration from Finland when it comes to attracting highly skilled workers ...
May 10, 2025•27 min•Ep. 236
In this week’s episode we talk about the surprise resignation of the Liberal Party leader Johan Pehrson. Ten years on from the arrival of record numbers of refugees we also look at how Sweden reacted to the 2015 crisis how how its approach to asylum immigration has changed since then. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Politics Swedish education minister and Liberal leader J...
May 03, 2025•25 min•Ep. 234
In this week's episode we talk about the possibility of there being a Swedish pope and the state of Catholicism in Sweden today. We also dive into the history of Sweden’s Valborg celebrations and why bonfires will be lit across Sweden on the last day of the month. For Membership+ subscribers we jump forward a day to the first of May and what to expect on the public holiday that is Labour Day. We discuss what to make of a recent burst of activity from the Social Democrats, the party most closely ...
Apr 26, 2025•18 min•Ep. 232
In this week's episode we talk about why Sweden celebrates on the eve of holidays rather than the day itself, and we look at what you need to know about Sweden’s new spring budget. For Membership+ subscribers we give you background on the proposed new leader of the Centre Party and what her nomination means for Sweden’s complicated political arithmetic. And finally we’ll examine efforts underway by a couple of Swedish municipalities to attract American academics who might be eager to leave the U...
Apr 18, 2025•16 min•Ep. 230
In this week's episode we talk about about a rush to buy coffee amid rocketing prices and we hear from an expert on Sweden's coffee culture, Henrik Scander . We also examine the political fallout after an official inquiry recommended stricter regulation of Sweden’s much-debated free schools. For Membership+ subscribers we look at efforts to stop motorists running over frogs and we discuss differences between how animal noises are described in English and Swedish. We also dig into calls by the op...
Apr 12, 2025•19 min•Ep. 228
In this week's episode we talk about the government’s push to eject more immigrants for bad behaviour, and we have an interview with migration minister Johan Forssell on attracting and retaining highly skilled workers. We also hear from Américo Fernández , an SEB economist and personal finance expert, on how foreigners in Sweden can navigate difficult times in the Swedish economy. Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and Becky Waterton. Here are links to som...
Apr 05, 2025•31 min•Ep. 226
In this week's episode we have an interview with an American tech worker who has launched an initiative urging the government to reconsider its plans to tighten citizenship requirements. Our panelists also discuss why Swedish politicians in Brussels have fought tooth and nail to retain the right for 15-year-old Swedes to drive extremely slowly in car-like contraptions on Swedish roads. And why are the far-right Sweden Democrats floating the idea of a future partnership with the once all-powerful...
Mar 29, 2025•30 min•Ep. 224
In this week's episode our panelists discuss two stories affecting work permit holders after parliament voted through a new law targeting former asylum seekers for expulsion from Sweden and Northvolt filed for bankruptcy. We also ask if Sweden should be doing more to involve immigrants in the construction of a cultural canon that could be used for citizenship tests. For Membership+ subscribers we find out what Americans are telling us about why they’re moving to Sweden and finally we delve into ...
Mar 22, 2025•30 min•Ep. 222
In this week's episode we discuss: Northvolt’s bankruptcy, the criminal investigation into Sweden’s former national security adviser Henrik Landerholm, the latest on the defence situation for Sweden in relation to Russia and the United States, and why some commentators think Sweden’s needs its own nuclear deterrent. For Membership+ subscribers we look at what readers are telling us about what it’s like becoming a Swedish citizen, and finally we shine a light on the work being carried out by a ta...
Mar 15, 2025•30 min•Ep. 220
In this week’s episode we discuss the latest Swedish reaction to dramatic changes in the European security landscape. What does Sweden’s defence industry look like, and does the country have enough troops to send peacekeepers to Ukraine? We also have commentary from Swedish members of the European Parliament about the harsh rhetoric on immigration we’ve seen in Sweden in recent years. For Membership+ subscribers we look at proposals for a new grading system for Swedish schools to replace a metho...
Mar 08, 2025•20 min•Ep. 218
In this week's episode we look at what makes Sweden such a trusting society. We also discuss Muharrem Demirok's decision to step down as Centre Party leader and what it means for the future of a party that's currently siding with the left but has previously allied itself with the right. And why has a supreme court ruling on European data protection drawn howls of protest from Swedish publishers? Host Richard Orange is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and James Savage. Sweden Ex...
Mar 01, 2025•30 min•Ep. 216
In this week's episode we talk about how Sweden is reacting to the United States’ dramatic foreign policy pivot on Europe. What are Swedish politicians saying after US Vice President JD Vance kickstarted a week of new lows in US-Europe relations? We also look at the planned closure of an international upper-level high school in Stockholm and speak to Abdirahim Mohammed , the student who launched a petition calling for action to save the school . Here are links to some of the topics discussed in ...
Feb 22, 2025•24 min•Ep. 214
In this week's episode: Reader reactions to Örebro mass murder, and why a gun law debate sparked fury among Sweden Democrats. For Membership+ subscribers: What would make the government rethink a plan to apply citizenship law changes retroactively to current applicants? And why the King revealed the wrong name for a new Swedish princess. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Emma Löfgren and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Crime ...
Feb 15, 2025•28 min•Ep. 212
We're releasing the podcast earlier than usual this week to bring you up to date information on this week's horrific shooting in Örebro that left eleven people dead. We also look at why Sweden’s government wants to make the new citizenship rules retroactive and how applicants are reacting. In the longer version for Membership+ subscribers we give you the lowdown on sportlov, the annual Swedish school break that sees families leave the cities en masse for the northern slopes and, finally, we dig ...
Feb 06, 2025•25 min•Ep. 210
We start this week with news that broke just before we started recording the episode. The victims of two separate murders in the greater Stockholm region on Wednesday were revealed to be, in the first killing in Husby, an uncle of organised crime chief Rawa Majid and, in Södertälje, Salwan Momika, who was behind a quran-burning spree in 2023. Coming at the end of a record month for explosive attacks, how serious is the current crime wave and what's being done to stop it? We also look at why Swed...
Feb 01, 2025•22 min•Ep. 208
This week we’re going to test our panelists’ Swedish language knowledge by throwing a few questions at them from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test that students can take as an entrance exam for Swedish universities. The questions in this episode are taken from a test that university applicants took in autumn 2015. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by Becky Waterton and James Savage . READ ALSO: SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden'...
Jan 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 189
This week we talk about Donald Trump's return to the White House and how it’s going to impact Sweden, especially in the areas of trade and security. And could the Tesla strike become a flashpoint with Elon Musk now a part of the US administration? One Swede who was in the United States recently is the deputy prime minster Ebba Busch. We discuss her recent visit to Las Vegas where she gave a rousing speech about Swedish innovation that sparked animated debate back home. We’ll also examine why the...
Jan 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 206
Sweden's government promised a paradigm shift on immigration and this was a week in which they moved ahead with some cornerstone policies. As we spoke about in last week's podcast , enhanced security checks are expected to slow down decisions on citizenship by a migration authority already struggling to manage a backlog of more than 80,000 applications. The head of a government inquiry this week recommended a grace period for existing applicants as Sweden moves to extend residency requirements f...
Jan 18, 2025•35 min•Ep. 204
Migration minister on citizenship security checks, January's 'ox weeks', citizenship and immigration rule changes, Northvolt's battle for survival. For membership+ subscribers: why Sweden has a wolf hunt, and what readers say about receiving wrong information from the Migration Agency. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Emma Löfgren. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Swedish citizenship Labour migrants 'should not be worrie...
Jan 11, 2025•15 min•Ep. 202
This week we’re going to turn our attention to the year ahead with some soothsaying on what to expect in politics and the economy in 2025 and we’ll also hear some of The Local’s readers' predictions for the year ahead. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Immigration How new Swedish migration rules could affect foreign residents in 2025 Politics Politics in Sweden: Energy minist...
Jan 04, 2025•22 min•Ep. 200
Special offer for members Get Membership+ free for two months __ In this week's episode of Sweden in Focus we look back at the Swedish year in news. As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the stories that shaped Sweden over the past year. Join us for an end-of-year quiz where we dive into the headlines and events that shaped the news agenda. What do you remember about the extreme weather events that kickstarted 2024? Do you recall who won Olympic gold medals for Sweden? And can you be...
Dec 28, 2024•18 min•Ep. 198
Special offer for members Get Membership+ free for two months __ In this week's episode: the best things about Christmas in Sweden, interview with the Greens' migration spokesperson on citizenship slowdown plans. Host Paul O’Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Richard Orange and James Savage. Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode: Christmas FACT CHECK: Did a Swedish company really tell staff not to say Merry Christmas? What you need to know about travelling in...
Dec 21, 2024•29 min•Ep. 196
