I talk about my up coming book comparing the post-socialist population crisis in Eastern Europe and the deaths of despair epidemic in the US, and how they fuel populism through worse health and social disintegration.

Hungarian voters delivered a decisive electoral upset to strongman Viktor Orbán, who spent 16 years consolidating power, capturing institutions, and portraying himself as the global template for illiberal democracy. Opposition leader Péter Magyar won a landslide victory, with turnout exceeding 77 percent. The new government now holds a two-thirds parliamentary supermajority. In this episode of The Stakes, CFK Global Fellows Gábor Scheiring and Kristóf Szombati, both veterans

Our Hungary election mini-series continues in the wake of a seismic result: Péter Magyar's Tisza party swept Fidesz from power with a two-thirds supermajority, endi#86C6E5ng sixteen years of Viktor Orbán's rule. In this episode, Kristóf is joined by his former party co-founder and political economy scholar Gábor Scheiring to make sense of what happened — and the treacherous transition ahead. Together, we trace how Orbán's political settlement unraveled under the weight of a s

Hungary’s morning after... Analyzing the regime-change in Hungary -after the euphoria settles. Twenty-Four Two’s special 15-episode series on Hungary. “A competitive authoritarian regime is a competitive authoritarian regime,” Scheiring tells us. “As long as you have elections, it’s possible to beat the ruling party, but it’s just hard, right? It’s much harder than in a free and fair democracy with free and fair elections”. Orbán conceded quickly because his defeat was undeni

For the first time in 16 years, long-standing European leader Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat to his former acolyte Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party.

Hungary's historic election is being hailed as a win for democracy and a possible shift away from far-right leadership across the region. After 16 years in power, Viktor Orban was voted out, following a record turnout. His successor, Peter Magyar, has outlined his agenda overnight; raising questions about what this leadership change means for Europe. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/what-does-hungary-s-election-mean-for-europe-/106573916

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat after his opponent Péter Magyar's landslide victory. Far-right authoritarian leader Orbán had been in power for 16 years and made a number of major changes to the country's constitution to weaken the judiciary. https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/04/13/viktor-orban-loss-hungary

Global oil shortage, gas shortage, fertilizer shortage, aluminum shortage, global aviation collapse. The only way out of this is a world crisis of war. I spoke with the host, economist Zoltán Pogátsa.

In a recent study I examined why Orbán's economic model can no longer be continued. I discuss this with Zoltán Pogátsa.

Since 2010, Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party have consolidated power, dismantled checks and balances, and taken control of universities, civil society, and the media. Pro-Orban groups now control 80 percent of the country’s media, according to Reporters Without Borders. On Friday, Donald Trump met with Orban, a close ally, at the White House. What can we learn from Hungarians about resisting authoritarianism and what's to come? Click on image: