Royal Palace Podcast

In this episode, we’re joined by our cultural correspondent to discuss the latest developments on the Louvre heist, the so-called budget “crisis,” social security, and layoffs in strategic sectors.If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to share it with your friends and subscribe to our email newsletter!

On the 19th of October 2025, a group of unarmed thieves broke into the famous Louvre Art Museum, stealing several high-value pieces. It didn't take long for politicans in charge to deflect responsability for decades of underfunding, deferred maintence, understaffing and the poor working conditions which the labor unions have long denounced. Featuring our new culture correspondent, we discuss the daring robbery, the reactions to it, and our cultural obsession with art heists.Thumbnail: Quirinale.it, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons

In this special, we discuss the sudden collapse of Lecornu’s government following his announcement of the list of his (not-so-new) ministers. As Macron promises to appoint a new Prime Minister by Friday, we explore who that might be, what options the President of the Republic has, and speculate on the potential outcome of the next presidential election.

Since our last episode, President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister. While the mediasphere may have been caught off guard, our listeners weren’t—Marlon from Flep24 predicted it on our last episode. But who is Sébastien Lecornu? Why did President Macron choose him? And what does his appointment mean for France, as unions and grassroots movements prepare for strikes and protests tomorrow.

Unable to rally support for an unpopular budget proposal, French Prime Minister François Bayrou has decided to go out with a bang by invoking Article 49.1 of the Constitution. Guest Marlon Ettinger from the Flep24 podcast joins Patrick to unpack how we got here and to make predictions about what comes next.Don't forget to rate and subscribe to Flep24—and support them on Patreon!