157: Anne Hidalgo’s Paris Legacy & the 2026 Vote with Phineas Rueckert

We are nearing the end of an era. Anne Hidalgo, Paris mayor since 2014, will soon be leaving office. And this weekend, we vote on her replacement. In fact, there are elections all over the country. But in Paris, there are changes to how that’s going to go down this year and who is likely to take over. I’m joined by Phineas Rueckert, a Paris-based journalist who covers politics and social issues for The Nation, Jacobin and New Lines Magazine, to unpack what’s at stake, who’s running, why this election is so important, and what legacy Anne Hidalgo leaves behind.Mentioned in this episode:Phineas RueckertPhineas's substack Becoming FrenchLe Monde on Hidalgo's legacyFrance's elections at risk of foreign interferenceFrance's local elections, 2026Elections as a preview for Europe Quentin Deranque, political flashpointLyon as French capital of political violenceSarah Knafo copies MamdaniPhineas's report for The Nation on Sarah Knafo Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠