Sarah Wheaton
@swheaton
Chief Policy Corresp @POLITICOEurope. Co-author Brussels Playbook, host EU Confidential pod. Frmr: WH @POLITICO; politics @NYTimes. swheaton at politico . eu
This week, the European Commission unveiled its sweeping new seven-year budget proposal. On the new episode of EU Confidential, @swheaton, @GregSorgi + @thisisbartosz dig into the fights already heating up over where the money goes. 🎧 Listen now 👇 politico.eu/podcast/eu-con…
NEW: U.S. program to combat HIV/AIDS survives Trump's latest round of cuts The White House backed down on $400 million in PEPFAR cuts, fearing fatal GOP defections over it. Some advocates are relieved — with caveats. Story with @scottwongDC: nbcnews.com/politics/congr…
Was in tears on streets of Strasbourg, listening to early edit of segment in latest EU Confidential. Stirring, immersive 1st person account of sleepless nights in Kyiv, on mattress in the hallway, from Veronika Melkozerova, produced by @DionisiosSturis. politico.eu/podcast/eu-con…
Ursula von der Leyen survived her no-confidence vote today, but the event carries a powerful warning for the European Commission president. Join our reporters @swheaton, @MarianneGros95 and @MaxGriera at 4 p.m. CEST for a live debrief 👇 politico.eu/event/politico…
#EuConfidential: Trump got the fanfare in The Hague. Then Brussels scrambled to fund the 5% pledge — and von der Leyen’s centrist bloc began to crack. @swheaton and @POLITICOEurope colleagues pulled a late one to unpack both summits. Give it a listen! politico.eu/podcast/eu-con…
EXCLUSIVE from @CamGijs Latest US counterproposal lands on the table of the European Commission politico.eu/article/eu-lea…
Couldn't resist stirring the pot on Belgian politics when I spoke to @SammyMahdi, head of the Flemish Christian Democrats (EPP). Could @cdenv and Bart De Wever's @de_NVA coexist within the EPP? "No, I don't think so," Mahdi said. More in Bx Playbook: politico.eu/newsletter/bru…
Tanks vs Pensions? As @NATO eyes 5% defense spending, critics push back: 🇧🇪 @SammyMahdi (@cdenv) calls it “insane” 🇩🇪 @Ralf_Stegner (SPD) prefers diplomacy Plus:@MichelleHaas_ on funding the military surge #EUConfidential with @swheaton @POLITICOEurope politico.eu/podcast/eu-con…
The EU is not ready to give in to Trump's 10% global tariff - talks are ongoing. #G7Kananaskis2025 politico.eu/article/eu-don…
#EuConfidential: The EU is reviewing its ties with Israel over the Gaza war and fears of famine. @RymMomtaz joins @swheaton to explain what’s behind the move. Plus: ex-Irish PM @LeoVaradkar on Trump — and what he’s been up to after retiring from politics politico.eu/podcast/eu-con…
The body language...
Longtime Biden aide Jake Sullivan pushed back on reporting in a new book that the president forgot his name. "I do not recall that ever happening," Sullivan tells our @Jack_Blanchard_.
👀 Will he make pit stops in Romania or Poland ahead of this weekend's elections in those countries?
VANCE to Rome for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass.
GOP Sen. @Eric_Schmitt on whether the U.S. should withdraw from NATO: "I think everything should be on the table." "I don't think that's where we're at," but the U.S. "is tired of sort of getting ripped off," he tells @rachaelmbade at our Security Summit.
Trump’s long shadow over Europe — with case studies from 🇩🇪 & 🇷🇴. A chancellor weakened before day one. A MAGA-loving firebrand leads in Bucharest. This week on #EUConfidential with @swheaton, @TimRoss_1, @carmenpaun & @NetteNostlinger @POLITICOEurope politico.eu/podcast/eu-con…
In response to reports of Waltz’s ouster Laura Loomer sent a one-word text to POLITICO: “Loomered.” politico.com/news/2025/05/0…
Donald Trump shocked everyone by pausing his tariffs for 90 days (for all countries except China), leaving the EU wondering what game he’s playing. On EU Confidential, @swheaton unpacks the fallout from the U-turn with @joshualipsky and @Busvine. 🎧: ow.ly/qNJG50VyKqT
My first scoop is out! ✍️✍️✍️ EU Parliament president Roberta Metsola has alleged the Commission is using AI to answer EP questions 🤖🇪🇺 Read more 👇👇👇
Is ChatGPT doing the Commission’s homework? The European Parliament is asking after robotic replies. politico.eu/article/europe…
Some personal news: I am thrilled to be joining @politico next month as Diplomatic Correspondent, covering international security, defense and trade. A huge thank you to my amazing colleagues @FT for three amazing years. I am so excited for what's to come!
The news is out - tomorrow will be my first day at @politico as the newly minted Washington Law and Lobbying Reporter! Send me tips and Rosslyn lunch recs at [email protected]
Problem for many in Brussels: Kellogg is the only Trump person they seem to connect with, yet Kellogg himself seems to have a "disconnect" with WH messaging
Special envoy Keith Kellogg at the Council on Foreign Relations says what happened in the Oval with Zelenskyy was a public "disconnect" between the goals of the U.S. and Ukraine. Trump's and Zelenskyy's objectives "were clearly not in alignment with one another."