logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
47m 36s

The trial of Björn Höcke, the ‘real boss...

The Guardian
About this episode
As leader of the AfD’s most radical faction, he is infamous in Germany and his critics have long accused him of using language that echoes the Nazis. This year, a court put that question to the test. By Alex Dziadosz. Help support our independent journalism at <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/longreadpod">theguardian.com/longreadpod</a ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Best of 2026…so far: Apocalypse no: how almost everything we thought we knew about the Maya is wrong
Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2026, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from February: For many years the prevailing debate about the Maya ... Show More
39m 55s
Aug 24
‘The war leaked into every lesson’: learning Ukrainian in a country under siege
Soon after my first visit to Ukraine four years ago, I began language lessons. It taught me more than I ever expected Written and read by Charlotte Higgins On Wednesday 30 September, join Charlotte Higgins and our panel of acclaimed Ukrainian writers to reflect on the profound co ... Show More
40m 11s
Aug 21
Best of 2026 … so far: Where Duolingo falls down: how I learned to speak Welsh with my mother
Every Wednesday and Friday in August we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2026, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it. This week, from March: Once violently defended from extinction, Welsh is stil ... Show More
50m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
Germans push back against extremist AfD
<p>Germans have been staging mass protests against the far-right ideology of the AfD party. This followed revelations about a meeting late last year in which the party and its backers discussed the potential for mass deportations of people of foreign origin. Gideon discusses whet ... Show More
22m 10s
Jan 2024
Should Germany ban the popular far-right AfD party?
Germany is wrestling with the question of whether to ban the country’s second-most popular political party – Alternative für Deutschland – known as the AfD. The ever-more radical far-right party is soaring in the polls, but there is growing concern about the party's anti-immigrat ... Show More
25m 45s
Aug 2023
Peter Boehringer: Is the AfD a threat to German stability?
Stephen Sackur speaks to Peter Boehringer, Vice Chairman of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Deutschland party. They are anti-immigrant, anti-EU, anti-military aid for Ukraine, and are running second in national polls. Does their rise threaten Germany’s stability? 
23m 28s
Jan 2024
The Intelligence: is Germany al[t]right?
<p>The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party represents a growing <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/01/21/germany-strikes-a-brave-new-deal-on-immigration?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr ... Show More
21m 46s
Dec 2022
How A Foiled Coup In Germany Came To Be
This week, authorities in Germany arrested more than two dozen suspected far-right extremists over a plot to violently overthrow the government.The plotters were reportedly inspired by QAnon conspiracy theories. NPR's Rob Schmitz walks us through the latest.And German historian a ... Show More
11m 48s
Jan 2022
Extremism
Extremism: Laurie Taylor talks to Julia Ebner, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, about her experience of going undercover amongst political extremists, including neo Nazis, Islamic jihadists and anti feminists. Also, Daniel Koehler, founding Director ... Show More
28m 47s
Jan 2024
The Intelligence: is Germany al[t]right?
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party represents a growing anti-immigrant rhetoric in the country, but people are taking to the streets in their thousands to fight back. Why has the debate become so polarised? Japan’s ruling party has been trying to get women back into the labo ... Show More
21m 46s
Feb 2025
Is Germany’s far right about to go mainstream?
<p>For the first time since the Nazis, Germany&rsquo;s far right nears power. With the AfD in second place ahead of a crucial election, the once-fringe party is now centre stage. How did they rise, and what impact will their growing influence have on Germany?</p> <p><strong>In th ... Show More
21m 38s