Michelle Martin

Today, American and European conservatives, populists and nationalists are gathering in Hungary for a fourth consecutive year for the Conservative Political Action Conference. It was kicked off this morning by Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

American conservatives have looked at Hungary and Orban as an aspirational model in recent years for getting elected and also for lessons in implementing a political agenda. He's led the country for the last 15 years and won four consecutive elections. And many Hungarians and analysts say he's done that by taking over and then undermining democratic institutions.

American conservatives have looked at Hungary and Orban as an aspirational model in recent years for getting elected and also for lessons in implementing a political agenda. He's led the country for the last 15 years and won four consecutive elections. And many Hungarians and analysts say he's done that by taking over and then undermining democratic institutions.

American conservatives have looked at Hungary and Orban as an aspirational model in recent years for getting elected and also for lessons in implementing a political agenda. He's led the country for the last 15 years and won four consecutive elections. And many Hungarians and analysts say he's done that by taking over and then undermining democratic institutions.

Our colleague Leila Fadl has been in Hungary this week exploring all this, and she's with us now in Budapest, the capital. Good morning, Leila. Hey, good morning. So I hear it's a little windy. Tell us where you are.

Our colleague Leila Fadl has been in Hungary this week exploring all this, and she's with us now in Budapest, the capital. Good morning, Leila. Hey, good morning. So I hear it's a little windy. Tell us where you are.

Our colleague Leila Fadl has been in Hungary this week exploring all this, and she's with us now in Budapest, the capital. Good morning, Leila. Hey, good morning. So I hear it's a little windy. Tell us where you are.

So remind us what goes on at this annual gathering, and who are some of the big names attending this year? Sure.

So remind us what goes on at this annual gathering, and who are some of the big names attending this year? Sure.

So remind us what goes on at this annual gathering, and who are some of the big names attending this year? Sure.

So in the course of your reporting, what are you finding has drawn the U.S. and Hungary together in recent years?

So in the course of your reporting, what are you finding has drawn the U.S. and Hungary together in recent years?

So in the course of your reporting, what are you finding has drawn the U.S. and Hungary together in recent years?

That is our Leila Fano talking to us from Budapest, Hungary. Leila, thank you. You're welcome, Michelle. And that's Up First for Thursday, May 29th. I'm Michelle Martin. Make your next listen, Consider This from NPR. Up First covers three or more big stories of the day. Consider This gives you one big story in depth in less than 15 minutes. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

That is our Leila Fano talking to us from Budapest, Hungary. Leila, thank you. You're welcome, Michelle. And that's Up First for Thursday, May 29th. I'm Michelle Martin. Make your next listen, Consider This from NPR. Up First covers three or more big stories of the day. Consider This gives you one big story in depth in less than 15 minutes. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

That is our Leila Fano talking to us from Budapest, Hungary. Leila, thank you. You're welcome, Michelle. And that's Up First for Thursday, May 29th. I'm Michelle Martin. Make your next listen, Consider This from NPR. Up First covers three or more big stories of the day. Consider This gives you one big story in depth in less than 15 minutes. Check it out wherever you get your podcasts.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Cara Platoni, Miguel Macias, Arzu Rizvani, H.J. Mai, and Lisa Thompson. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Heines, and our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Cara Platoni, Miguel Macias, Arzu Rizvani, H.J. Mai, and Lisa Thompson. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Heines, and our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

Today's episode of Up First was edited by Cara Platoni, Miguel Macias, Arzu Rizvani, H.J. Mai, and Lisa Thompson. It was produced by Ziad Butch, Nia Dumas, and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Nisha Heines, and our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

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