“Should we panic or can we keep a cool head?” With that question, defence experts Michelle Haas and Tim Haesebrouck from Ghent University open every episode of their podcast De Paniekzaaiers (“The Panicmongers”). In a world where global politics seems upside down, they add some much-needed nuance.
“It’s all Michelle’s fault,” Tim laughs. The idea for De Paniekzaaiers came up the way many good ideas do: over lunch. “We were already talking non-stop about current events,” Michelle says. “At some point we thought: why not turn this into a podcast?”
In short
- The podcast De Paniekzaaiers gives you an update on what’s happening in world politics every two weeks .
- According to defence experts Michelle Haas and Tim Haesebrouck, there’s no need to panic, even if it sometimes sounds like the end is near in the news.
- We do, however, need to learn to live with ongoing uncertainty. There are no quick fixes for conflicts in world politics.
From headlines to context
The idea is simple: in their podcast, Michelle and Tim walk you through often worrying news stories, but they don’t get stuck in the doom and gloom. A new security strategy from Trump? Drones over Belgium? They calmly explain what’s going on and put scary headlines into context.
“We want to talk about war, threats and worst-case scenarios without completely paralysing people,” says Tim. “If you follow the news, it can feel like the end is just around the corner. But in reality, it’s almost always a mixed picture. Now and then there’s a big shock, like the invasion of Ukraine or Trump’s election. But the main lines of European security remain largely stable. When we prepare an episode, the word ‘zoom out’ comes up all the time: we try to look at the long term.”
The title De Paniekzaaiers is a deliberate nod. “We’re actually the opposite,” Michelle laughs. “We’re both very positive and we want to bring people the much-needed nuance.”
Less panic in your newsfeed
Just like all of us, Michelle and Tim have to navigate a constant stream of news every day. They make a clear distinction between information and understanding, they explain. You can get breaking news alerts all day long and still feel like you don’t really get what’s happening – especially if you live on push notifications, clickbait headlines and endless scrolling. That’s why Michelle has turned off almost all notifications, even for news.
According to Tim, media often make it sound like every single day is the turning point in war, threats, “historic” highs or “final” peace deals. “While in reality, the big trends in world politics usually move much more slowly than the headlines suggest,” he says. “I choose my moment to dive into the news, and then I go deeper using international, specialist outlets or a good podcast.”
And what if you think: “I can’t take it anymore, I’m skipping the news”? Totally understandable, say Michelle and Tim. “You are not morally obliged to follow every single development on Ukraine, Gaza or US politics,” they stress. “And it’s not a competition in who cares the most. But it can make you stronger as a person if you have some idea of what’s going on in the world.”
“Our tip for young people, and really for everyone: check in on purpose now and then, for example once a week, and ask yourself: What really changed this week? Try to focus less on short posts and more on depth, outside your social-media bubble. Read a newspaper occasionally, a good article, a book, or watch an explainer video. (enthusiastically) We’re both big fans of the videos by Anders Puck Nielsen.”
How do we in Belgium look at war?
In their research, Michelle and Tim compare how different European countries see defence and threats. The contrast is big. “In the Baltic states, there’s no debate: Russia is seen as an existential threat,” says Michelle. “Here in Belgium, the question is much more often: ‘Is it really that bad?’”
Tim adds: “For a long time, Belgium spent very little on defence. Until recently, arguing for more investment felt like shouting into the void. In the last few years, that has started to change. The broader public seems to understand the seriousness better now. At the same time, we still like to make a kind of Belgian joke of it: ‘We’re always the worst in the class, aren’t we?’ Even though our situation is not fundamentally different from that of many other European countries.”
For many people, it still feels vague what these threats actually mean for Belgium in practice. “Why should we spend more? Why do we need air defence? Why is there talk of a possible year of service or voluntary military service for young people?” Michelle sums up.
The podcast title, "De Paniekzaaiers," is a deliberate nod. "We're actually the complete opposite," Michelle laughs.
According to her, there’s something else that’s typically Belgian: “What really stands out is how strongly defence here is tied up with politics and ideology. In some countries, people see a year of service as a broad social decision by the government. Here, it’s quickly seen as the pet project of one visible Minister of Defence: ‘Theo’s letter’.”
Tim: “Decisions about raising the NATO target from 2% to 3.5% of gross domestic product are quickly pinned on one party, while in reality these are full government decisions.”
The illusion of a quick fix
When they talk about the biggest challenge in 2026 in how we see the world and conflicts, Tim and Michelle point to an inconvenient truth.
“We may be a bit stuck in a crisis mindset, a phase of constant alarm,” Michelle says. “But it’s an illusion to think there’s some simple switch we can flip to solve all this unrest in world politics. There is no quick fix for Ukraine. That conflict will shape European security for decades. Conflicts change shape, freeze, flare up again and leave generations of trauma behind.”
Tim also looks at his own generation: “I grew up in what historians sometimes call a ‘holiday from history’: the 1990s and early 2000s, when things felt relatively calm in Western Europe. That’s why every conflict today feels like an exception, a temporary problem. But if you look at history, long-term tensions – like between Ukraine and Russia, or Israel and Palestine – are more the rule than the exception. Realising that can actually be a source of comfort.”
Learning to live with uncertainty
Michelle and Tim aren’t arguing for naïve optimism, but for awareness. Yes, there are real threats. Yes, the role of the United States is changing, and Europe will have to take on more itself. But no, we’re not getting World War III tomorrow.
“Some threats, like those involving drones, are by definition ambiguous,” says Michelle. “Uncertainty simply comes with the territory. Learning to live with those grey zones – without polarising or completely checking out – may well be the biggest mental challenge of 2026.”
Listen to De Paniekzaaiers
Want more solid ground in these turbulent times in world politics? Listen to the podcast De Paniekzaaiers (in Dutch). Every two weeks, Michelle and Tim talk you through the latest developments with humour, nuance and without unnecessary panic. Once a month, a guest joins them with a sharp perspective.
Michelle Haas is a doctoral researcher at the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies. Her research focuses on how the defence policies of European states have changed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In spring 2026, her first book will be published: 'Komt er oorlog? En 33 andere vragen over defensie' (“Is War Coming? And 33 Other Questions About Defence”).
Tim Haesebrouck is a professor of international politics at the Ghent Institute for International and European Studies. He specialises in international politics, with a focus on defence policy and military operations.
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