Lights out for the West? 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout #112

What happens when the lights go out across an entire region?This week, we talk about the massive blackout that plunged the Iberian Peninsula into darkness and the strange psychological aftermath that followed. Balder shares his experience from the ground in Madrid, while we reflect on how quickly panic and rumors—especially of World War III and our last episode on the fear of war—spread through a society gripped by fear. From people raiding grocery stores to others flocking to parks, the reactions say as much about our modern mindset as they do about the incident itself.We also look at how the blackout is already being politicised, reigniting old debates about renewables, nuclear energy, and infrastructure security, despite the fact that, as of recording day, we still don’t know what really happened.This podcast is published with the help of RAIA NOW gUG but is an individual project between the Director of RAIA Dario Hasenstab and Balder Hageraats. If you would like to get in touch with us, write us an email at [email protected].