Germany has voted, and Friedrich Merz is now the chancellor-in-waiting. But can he rise to the occasion? With Donald Trump signaling a retreat from Europe and cozying up to Vladimir Putin, the continent faces its biggest security challenge in decades. Will Merz shake off Germany’s long-standing hesitation and step up?
Host Sarah Wheaton is joined by James An ... Show More
Apr 23
Too many crises for one summit?
On today's show, Ian is in the sunny Mediterranean nation of Cyprus for the biggest gathering of EU leaders on the island for many, many years. Sarah joins from Brussels and Nick dials in from Greece, where he’s attending the Delphi Economic Forum. Expect the agenda of the leader ... Show More
13m 44s
Sep 2024
Germany, France, and the rise of Euroscepticism
<p>It has been a momentous few weeks in German and French politics. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won its first state election – and achieved the German far-right’s best result since the second world war – in Thuringia with 33% of the vote; in Saxony, it came a close second t ... Show More
38m 41s
May 2025
A new chapter in German politics
As of May 6th, Germany has a new government, led by the CDU’s Friedrich Merz in coalition with the CSU and SPD. Despite a last-minute hitch, Merz is now safely installed in the Bundeskanzleramt in Berlin, from where he immediately jetted off to Paris and Warsaw for high-level pol ... Show More
32m 17s
Jan 2025
Election countdown: New Germany, new Europe, new podcast
<p>With just five weeks remaining until the German federal election, Friedrich Merz's CDU is leading in the polls. But significant shifts in geopolitics—and opinion—can occur in weeks and days: and this election will take place in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s inauguration and ... Show More
32m 36s