Follow the Money: The Podcast

Carbon credits are marketed as a simple solution to climate change: companies can offset CO₂ by funding green initiatives such as forest protection and tree planting. Yet many of these offsets have been exposed as ineffective at cutting emissions, or even harmful. Follow the Money reporters Mira Sys and Ties Gijzel explain how this market really works – and why we shouldn’t bank on it to protect our planet.

Hungary is heading into a pivotal election. After 16 years in power, Viktor Orbán faces his most serious challenger yet. Péter Magyar emerged out of the blue and quickly transformed himself into the face of the opposition. But who is he really? Hungarian journalist Patrik Galavits traces the rise of the man expected to become the country’s next premier – and explains what that could mean for Hungary and Europe. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/orban-main-rival-hungary-brussels-elections-no-trust-just-yet Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

As the European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders was tasked with defending the rule of law across the EU. But days after leaving office, his home was raided as part of a money laundering probe. Journalist Simon Van Dorpe unpacks the story of one of Europe’s most influential politicians – and his fall from grace. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/reynders-charged-in-money-laundering-probe https://www.ftm.eu/articles/didier-reynders-ally-target-corruption-probe https://www.ftm.eu/articles/reynders-money-laundering-what-we-know-so-far https://www.ftm.eu/articles/european-commissioner-didier-reynders-investigated-for-alleged-fraud Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

Before Hungarian premier Viktor Orbán dismantled Hungary’s independent press, before media tycoons conglomerated power across Europe, there was a chance to stop it all. Our podcast goes behind the scenes of an investigation that found secret letters and lobbying that killed a plan to protect Europe’s media.

Microloans were meant to lift people out of poverty. But in Cambodia, they’ve pushed families into crushing debt – and in some cases, even to suicide. Reporters Leila Goldstein and Phon Sothyroth travelled across the country to investigate how European development institutions helped fuel a system that profits from desperation. Content warning: This episode discusses suicide.

Soldiers are no strangers to danger. But what if they’re putting themselves, and national security, at risk by swiping on Tinder? Journalists Dimitri Tokmetzis, Sebastiaan Brommersma, and Martijn Reuvers revealed how data from Tinder can be used to track where soldiers are and even find out where they live.

We’re taking a short podcast break and will be back early next year! Got any tips, feedback, or comments? Email us at emma.du.chatinier@ftm.eu Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/bitcoin-mining-in-congo-rainforest-thanks-to-eu https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-health-data-us-firm-israel-spies https://www.ftm.eu/articles/google-antitrust-eu-us-regulators? Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

Donating old clothes or buying second-hand is widely seen as eco-friendly. Yet an FTM investigation reveals a more complicated – and polluting – reality. Journalists Helena Rodríguez Gómez, Raluca Besliu, and Vittoria Torsello tracked clothes donated across the EU. The garments travelled thousands of kilometres, passed through special economic zones, and in some cases even returned to Europe – exposing an industry in deep crisis. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-second-hand-clothes-trade-carbon-emissions 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗧𝗠 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

Think tanks present themselves as neutral institutions shaping Europe’s policy debates. But an investigation by FTM paints a different picture. Journalists Salsabil Fayed, Alistair Keepe and Ada Homolova found that Brussels’ most influential think tanks receive a third of their funding from U.S. sources – from philanthropists to major tech firms. This gives American interests a little-known but significant foothold in the EU’s policy arena.

Money shapes nearly every part of our lives, but few of us understand how it really works. In his upcoming book Plenty of Money (But Not for You), journalist Thomas Bollen exposes the hidden machinery of money, and the power wielded by commercial banks. His research demonstrates why real reform has stalled, and what it would take to regain control of the financial system.

Google is under growing pressure from EU regulators, who are considering breaking up the tech giant over its market dominance. An investigation by FTM revealed how the company’s controversial business strategies helped it cement its grip on the internet. Journalists Alexander Fanta and Simon Van Dorpe explain how Brussels set its sights on Google – and why the U.S. may block efforts to dismantle one of the world’s most influential companies. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/google-antitrust-eu-us-regulators Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

When Italy arrested an alleged Libyan war criminal wanted for torture and crimes against humanity earlier this year, it made international headlines. Forty-eight hours later, Osema Habish Najim Almasri was flown home as a free man. Lorenzo Bagnoli and Paolo Riva reveal how migration politics seem to have trumped international justice.

Phosphate minerals from Morocco are essential for producing fertiliser and the batteries that power electric vehicles. But local communities say that the world’s biggest exporter – the state-owned OCP – is causing pollution and harming their health. Despite concerns about the government’s attempts to stifle the media, journalist Manon Stravens travelled to Morocco to uncover OCP’s toxic trail.Related stories ➪https://www.ftm.eu/articles/following-toxic-trail-morocco-phosphate-giantFollow the podcasthttps://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcastFollow FTM on social media:Instagram ➪  https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/BlueSky  ➪  https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.euLinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_euBecome a member and support independent investigative journalism!https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

Tech company Zivver promised Europe it would keep its health and legal data safe. But FTM journalists Sebastiaan Brommersma and Siem Eikelenboom reveal how the company can in fact access private messages, and how that data came in reach of a U.S. company led by former Israeli spies. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/europe-health-data-us-firm-israel-spies Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

A NATO corruption scandal made international headlines when several suspects were arrested across Europe earlier this year. But a cross-border investigation reveals that just a few months later, the United States quietly dropped charges against four of them – despite strong evidence. FTM journalists Jesse Pinster and Simon Van Dorpe reveal how one of NATO’s most important members seems to have given up on cracking down on corruption. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/us-drops-case-in-nato-corruption-scandal https://www.ftm.eu/articles/the-network-behind-the-nato-corruption-scandal Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ TikTok ➪ https://www.tiktok.com/@ftm_eu Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

As Europe ramps up its defence spending, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has handed over his country’s entire defence industry to a trusted business ally. Journalist Jesse Pinster uncovers how EU money and state assets are being funnelled into the hands of Orbán’s inner circle — continuing a pattern of cronyism that’s reshaped Hungary over the past decades. Despite growing concerns in Brussels, the EU still struggles to hold one of its most troublesome members to account.

A Belgian prince is running a conservation project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, financed by millions in European aid. Journalist Olivier van Beemen reveals how more than 150 million euros in European funding ended up powering a failed conservation dream – and even Bitcoin mining in the rainforest. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/bitcoin-mining-in-congo-rainforest-thanks-to-eu https://www.ftm.eu/articles/belgian-prince-in-congo Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

A stranger reading your messages, tracking your movements, scrolling through your photos. That's what spyware can do – without you even knowing. It’s marketed as a tool to fight terrorism and crime, but it’s also used to silence journalists, activists, and political opponents. Greek journalist Vas Panagiotopoulos reveals how the EU and national governments give public funds to companies behind this powerful surveillance technology linked to human rights abuses and political repression. The same firms accused of helping authoritarian regimes are cashing in on European taxpayer money. Related stories ➪ https://www.ftm.eu/articles/spyware-industry-eu-subsidies-surveillance-concers Follow the podcast https://www.ftm.eu/podcast/follow-the-money-the-podcast Follow FTM on social media: Instagram ➪ https://www.instagram.com/followthemoney_eu/ BlueSky ➪ https://bsky.app/profile/ftm.eu LinkedIn ➪ https://www.linkedin.com/company/follow-the-money-eu/ Become a member and support independent investigative journalism! https://www.ftm.eu/become-member

Health supplements are booming. Pills, powders, and gummies promise to make us fitter, stronger, and younger – and the industry is worth billions. But a Follow the Money investigation by Irene van den Berg and Mathilde de Jeu uncovered that nearly half of these products carry claims that aren’t allowed under EU rules. Still, Nestlé, Unilever, and other food giants keep them on the shelves, exploiting loopholes and weak regulation. Meanwhile, they profit twice: first from unhealthy foods, then from the supplements that supposedly undo the damage.