The Talking France podcast is back for its first 2026 episode with a look at the latest strikes and protests in the country, a proposed social media ban for under 15s and George Clooney's newly acquired French citizenship. You can find the Talking France podcast on Spotify or Apple, download here or listen on the link below. A two-part bill aimed at banning social media for teens under the age of 15 as well as the use of cell phones in high schools, has been drafted by the government and will be examined early January. Finally, we ask French native-speaker Emma Albright to correct our French pronunciation as she guides us through a series of words and phrases for use about strikes. Talking France is a free podcast made possible by the support of paying members of The Local - you can find out more about subscribing here.

Source: The Local January 08, 2026 13:52 UTC