The Danish Connection

This week on The Danish Connection:💊 We discuss the Danish government’s plan to invest DKK 160 million in a new National Centre for Research in Women’s Health. 🛂 We talk about Mette Frederiksen’s latest Facebook post where she warned of further restrictions on immigration, saying newcomers must accept ‘core Danish values’ and that the flow of international students moving to Denmark and working in the service industry must be stopped.🏥 We look into why Denmark has halted residence permits for foreign-trained nurses until 2027, citing no current shortage. While officials see it as practical, many internationals already in the country are left uncertain about their future and Denmark’s changing labour market.🗳️ On November 18, 2025, Denmark holds local and regional elections and half a million internationals are eligible to vote. With key debates over housing, sustainability and healthcare, we give you some practical advice on how to place your vote and what events you can attend to get more informed.As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

9 Marras 39min

This week on The Danish Connection:Melissa explores the citizenship controversy surrounding a Muslim leader denied Danish citizenship despite meeting all legal criteria. Lawmakers cited “values incompatible with Danish principles,” sparking a debate over religious freedom, democracy and increasing restrictions around citizenship in Denmark.Rachel breaks down the Mink Scandal - the controversy that just won’t go away for Mette Frederiksen. Five years after the illegal culling of 17 million mink during the pandemic, new revelations suggest the government may not have been fully transparent about deleted text messages tied to that decision. With billions in taxpayer compensation going to the mink farmers, new calls for an independent inquiry and a possible impeachment, what does this mean for the Prime Minister's future in the Folketing?Melissa unpacks a new report that reveals nearly 49% of species and 77% of habitats in Denmark are in a state scientists describe as ‘highly unfavourable’. Yet, the Ministry for the Green Tripartite seems to be telling the EU a different story. Can Denmark claim green leadership while ignoring its own data?As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you.Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

26 Loka 48min

This week on The Danish Connection:Eva unpacks the mysterious drone incidents that shut down Danish airports and raised national security alarms. Who is behind them, why is the Prime Minister receiving criticism for how it was handled and was it discussed among EU leaders at the summit that took place in Copenhagen this week?Rachel dives into Denmark’s upcoming local and regional elections, taking place on November 18th, 2025. Half a million internationals are eligible to vote, making up 10% of all voters in Denmark. Yet, turnout among internationals is still much lower than among Danes. She explains why this gap matters, how internationals can make their voices heard and gives you all the practical information you need to go and vote.As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

5 Loka 37min

Welcome back to another edition of Stories from the Streets with Maria Pagola - a bonus series from The Danish Connection where you get the chance to hear the unfiltered voices of Copenhagen speaking about the big topics, the small details, and everything in between. In this episode, Maria discusses the many layers of meaning behind Denmark’s most basic commodity: WaterIs it safe to drink it, is it ok to swim in it, and why does it hold so much cultural significance for Danes? In this episode she takes to the streets of Copenhagen to find out.As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

21 Syys 27min

This week on The Danish Connection, we’re digging into three huge stories that reveal the darker sides of public figures, education systems, and women’s safety in Denmark:🇩🇰 Eva breaks down the shocking case of former Social Democrats minister Henrik Sass Larsen, who has been convicted of possessing thousands of child sexual abuse materials, and why his prison sentence has caused public outrage.🎓 Rachel investigates how Roskilde University (RUC) filled its financial gap by enrolling fee-paying students from Bangladesh and Nepal, despite knowing many would struggle academically. Was this a lifeline for the university, or a scandal that undermines trust in Denmark’s higher education system and the ministry for it?⚖️ Melissa unpacks the murder of a woman by her ex-partner in Odense that has reignited a debate on femicide, intimate partner violence, and whether Danish authorities are doing enough to protect women at risk.We also talk about the prime minister's apology regarding the infamous spiral case and the Novo Nordisk layoffs. As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

14 Syys 52min

Welcome back to The Situation Room.This week, Jonas Friis is joined by Sine Plambech -anthropologist, author, filmmaker, and Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). Her work spans migration, smuggling, trafficking, and the sex industry, taking her deep into migrant communities, border zones, red-light districts, and along migration routes across West Africa, Asia, Europe’s southern frontier, and Denmark.Together, Jonas and Sine take on the pressing theme of “European Border Policies and Migration.” They begin by looking at how Denmark is adjusting politically, before turning to Sine’s research and first-hand experiences from the Mediterranean, alongside Jonas’ own reflections from his work with Frontex on the Italian island of Lampedusa. Melissa also share her thoughts and experiences in the Mediterranean

31 Elo 1h 2min

The Danish stock market, Novo Nordisk and Trump                               Rachel explores how Trump’s trade policies are sending shockwaves through Danish companies like Novo Nordisk, Ørsted, and Vestas. With tariffs, the falling value of the dollar, and investor uncertainty hitting the Danish economy, she looks into what this means for Denmark’s future in global markets and for the Danish GDP.New study finds children in Denmark own smartphones as young as eights years oldMelissa dives into a new study which finds that Danish children now get their first smartphone at just 8 years old - many years earlier than experts recommend. She examines the pressures parents face, the impact on children’s mental health, and the debate over screen time and online safety.The Prime Minister's statement on Palestine and Israel divides public and parliamentary opinionsEva looks at Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s recent statement on what is happening in Gaza, in which she condemned Israel’s actions and its Prime MInister, but did not say Denmark would move towards recognizing a Palestinian state, nor would it change its stance on taking in children in need of medical care. With Denmark holding the EU presidency and public opinion sharply divided, Eva unpacks the political, diplomatic, and humanitarian dimensions of this complex issue and how it affects Frederiksen’s future in the Folketing.As always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

25 Elo 42min

It may be ‘cucumber time’ in Denmark, but we’ve still managed to create a roundup of the latest news to keep you informed!This week on The Danish Connection: *Danish zoos spark global outrage after asking people to donate unwanted pets and livestock on Facebook.*In Amager, a butcher shop targeted by animal rights protests and vandalism sees sales soar in a show of local solidarity. *Copenhagen warns swimmers not to swim in popular harbor spots due to high E. coli levels. *Political pressure mounts on Mette Frederiksen as critics urge Denmark to accept sick children from Gaza. *Couples from across the globe flock to Copenhagen for fast, bureaucracy-free weddings. *The “pornographic” mermaid statue in Dragør and why locals want it goneAs always you can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or by simply clicking the link in bio.Remember - this is your place to share enquiries, opinions and tales of the immigrant experience in Denmark - and we want to hear from you. Pop us a DM on Instagram or via email thedanishconnectionnews@gmail.com and let us know if you have a story you would like to contribute.If you liked this episode and think it would be useful for someone you know - please share it with them!

10 Elo 43min