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Sweden in Focus

The Local
Sweden
Sweden Democrats
Immigration
Work Permits
Swedish Language
Migration Agency
Northvolt
Immigration Policy
Teen Deportations
Immigration Laws
NATO
Swedish Vocabulary
Swedish Migration Agency
Social Democrats
Ukraine
Högskola Provet
Iran
Gang Violence
Family Reunification
2015 Refugee Crisis

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 James Savage chats about the most important news and must-know information with The Local Sweden’s Emma Löfgren, Richa... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes283Founded5 years ago
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Society & CultureNewsNews Commentary

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Latest Episodes

Sweden's Nordic editor Richard Orange was in Visby this week at the Almedalen political festival.

One of the many people he spoke to was Niels Paarup-Petersen, who is the migration, education and digitalisation spokesperson for the Centre Party.

more

This week host James Savage and regular panelist Richard Orange record the podcast from Almedalen, the annual politics fest in Visby on the Baltic island of Gotland. 

They are joined for a lively politics conversation by Henrik Torehammar, a politic... more

Earlier this year the Fair Transition campaign group tried to convince Swedish decision makers to introduce transitional rules for the citizenship reforms which came into force on June 6th.

Two months have now passed since the Swedish parliament vot... more

This week we talk about the Swedish culture of long summer holidays and how to make the most of them.

Also: parliament has passed a law that will make it possible to revoke residence permits for “poor conduct”. Now that it has passed, will you live ... more

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Recent Guests

Ninhursag Tadaros
Asteriologist and curator
Medelhavsmuseet (Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities)
Episode: 'Disappointing and sad': Treasured Swedish museums risk closure over rising rents
Annika Hirvonen
Green Party immigration policy spokesperson
Green Party of Sweden
Episode: 'Sweden's next migration minister will have a big cleaning job to do'
Victoria Heisler
German-American dual citizen who applied for Swedish citizenship
The Local Sweden interviews
Episode: 'Devastated' – Swedish citizenship hopefuls fear for the future as deadline looms
Sigrid Holmwood
Swedish mother and British father; secured citizenship before the deadline
The Local Sweden interviews
Episode: 'Devastated' – Swedish citizenship hopefuls fear for the future as deadline looms
Volodymyr Rubinets
Software engineer from Ukraine
The Local Sweden interviews
Episode: 'Devastated' – Swedish citizenship hopefuls fear for the future as deadline looms
Ffion McEvoy
25-year-old student from Wales and Ireland
The Local Sweden interviews
Episode: 'Devastated' – Swedish citizenship hopefuls fear for the future as deadline looms
Mikael Odenberg
Moderate veteran, former defence minister
Moderate Party
Episode: 'A mistake to commit to a government with Sweden Democrats'
Mikael Ordenberg
Former defense minister, moderator guest
Moderate Party
Episode: Why 1,800 lawyers warn rule of law is under threat in Sweden
Åsa Holmes
Head of the Citizenship Unit, Swedish Migration Agency (Gothenburg)
Swedish Migration Agency
Episode: 'All applications in Sweden's citizenship queue will be assessed according to the new rules'

Hosts

James Savage
Host of the show and publisher; regular presenter and interviewer with the Local Europe/Local Sweden teams.
Emma Löfgren
Co-host and commentator; frequent panelist providing field reporting and analysis.
Richard Orange
Co-host and commentator; primary host for analysis and interviews.
Mandy Pipher
Co-host and interviewer; contributes reporting and on-the-ground insights.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 411 ratings
  • Superb… but

    Content is great and provides really good updates on the current situation in Sweden BUT why oh why do we get tiny 2 pr 3 minute trailers and have to suffer all the attendant adverts and constant pleas to join the plus service?

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Marks in the Sand
    Sweden3 months ago
  • On point and so informative

    Absolutely wolf this pod cast down the nanosecond they get released. Great chemistry between hosts that makes my horrible commute bearable. I’m not a Swede or live in Sweden but I love to learn about the culture of places I visit and I visited Sweden a bunch of times. Cheers and thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LTFAD
    United States3 months ago
  • Disappointing

    I’ve listened to this podcast for a while now. Sometimes it’s really helpful and informative but mostly it’s just some British people - often men - opining. Take the most recent episode about the cultural canon. No interviews. No critical insights from anyone who isn’t from England - Paul, thank you for the questions but get stuck in. No one who interrogates the idea that creating an exclusive canon (the creator of which has owned his politics on this very show) might exclude the migrant experie... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JoelHorwood
    Sweden10 months ago
  • Moved away from Balanced Discussion

    I have been a listener and a reader of The Local for 6 years and I am disheartened to see how much the publication has moved away from a balanced discussion to extreme left

    I am an immigrant myself but I find the discussions here so biased. Podcast never acknowledges crimes being committed, problems that illegal Immigration has caused in Sweden. It’s always blindly defending Sweden’s failed migration policy.

    That is why it fails to present a true reflection of how Swedish society feels. I fac... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Randomvk34
    Indiaa year ago
  • Causal racist and western superiorilism

    Really disappointed that people call non-western people uncivilized in this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Directusy
    Swedena year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticism notes perceived bias and limited diversity of voices in certain episodes, with calls for broader guest perspectives.
Listeners appreciate clear, informed discussions on Sweden's current affairs and immigration policy.
The show is seen as a reliable source for non-Swedes to understand Swedish life and policy.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

'Sweden's next migration minister will have a big cleaning job to do'
Q: When did you decide to pursue a new vote on the rules?
We initially tried utskottinitiativ, but it was voted down, so we chose the emergency motion to force a fresh vote given the urgency and the need to protect the integrity of the voting process.
'A mistake to commit to a government with Sweden Democrats'
Q: What makes the pairing system so important for parliamentary votes?
The guest explains that the pairing system is designed to ensure vote outcomes reflect what would happen if all members were present, maintaining fairness in situations with absences.
Week of chaos in Swedish politics after citizenship vote scandal
Q: How likely is it that the government can secure a new vote or revocation under the current committee dynamics?
The host and analysts suggest that while the government wants a resolution, the Sweden Democrats appear firm in their stance, and without a broader quittening agreement or changes that preserve the government's majority, a new vote is unlikely in the near term.
Week of chaos in Swedish politics after citizenship vote scandal
Q: So Becky, why is the opposition accusing the Sweden Democrats of cheating here?
The opposition accuses the Sweden Democrats of breaking a long-standing, signed agreement by bringing in two MPs who had promised not to vote, in order to cancel out two independent MPs and push the transitional rules through.
'Swedes are realising we need people from other countries to do jobs'
Q: Could you briefly explain what your survey found about public attitudes toward immigration policy in Sweden?
The survey showed a broad willingness among Swedes for immigrants who lawfully support themselves to stay, suggesting the public may favor more liberal attitudes than the policymakers' restrictive moves would indicate.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sweden in Focus

What is Sweden in Focus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This weekly briefing covers Sweden's latest political, policy, and social developments through thoughtful discussion and expert commentary. Core topics frequently span immigration policy, governance and constitutional norms, labor and economic policy, and Sweden's broader societal changes, often framed with on-the-ground anecdotes from local communities and practical implications for workers, businesses, and migrants. Viewers can expect accessible explanations of complex rules, timely analysis of parliamentary dynamics, and interviews with policy specialists and industry leaders. A notable strength is the mix of journalists and policy experts who translate national debates into relatable, real-world impact, making it useful for anyone track... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Sweden in Focus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sweden in Focus:

1. Simple Swedish Podcast
2. Swedish podcast for beginners (Lätt svenska med Oskar)
3. Inside Europe
4. Global News Podcast
5. The Documentary Podcast

How many episodes of Sweden in Focus are there?

Sweden in Focus launched 5 years ago and published 283 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Sweden in Focus?

Recent guests on Sweden in Focus include:

1. Ninhursag Tadaros
2. Annika Hirvonen
3. Victoria Heisler
4. Sigrid Holmwood
5. Volodymyr Rubinets
6. Ffion McEvoy
7. Mikael Odenberg
8. Mikael Ordenberg

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