Episodes

The Alternative for Germany has received unprecedented support in state elections in 2026, especially in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In this episode of The Zeitgeist, Hannah Alarian discusses what issues and …

Regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin saw successes for the far-right Alternative for Germany and far-left Die Linke and “disaster” for the mainstream parties. The episode of The Zeitgeist …

Investment is the backbone of transatlantic trade, but foreign direct investment between the United States and Germany has fallen in both directions in the past year. The German Economic Institute’s …

Approval ratings for Chancellor Merz and his government are at historic lows, the war in Ukraine is in its fifth year, and instability abroad has led to economic challenges at …

Germany’s Green Party is no longer part of the federal government and is seeking a comeback. How can the party mobilize the electorate and counter growing fragmentation and extremism in …

The global economic landscape is contested between China and the United States, with America’s partners such as Europe also playing important roles. China has pursued policies of one-way dependencies, and …

The 2026 World Cup has been bigger than ever before; an expanded tournament of forty-eight teams has brought record-breaking audiences. On this episode of The Zeitgeist, Andrei Markovits discusses soccer …

Civil society organizations are funded differently in the United States and Germany, and LGBTQ+ organizations must take different approaches when seeking financial support from the public and private sector. Preston …

The Stonewall Riots are known worldwide as a starting point for LGBTQ+ activism, and musicals like Cabaret have shared the story of the queer experience in Weimar Berlin. But the …

The United States has exploited strategic networks and dependencies to its advantage in foreign policy. As the international system has transformed, more countries seek to play at the game of …

Why are some women leaders hailed as brilliant crisis managers while others draw widespread criticism? Louise K. Davidson-Schmich’s new book Gender, Leadership, and Crisis: Possibilities and Perils for Women Leaders (Oxford University Press, …

German industry is facing headwinds: a sluggish domestic economy, instability in the transatlantic trade relationship, and unfair global trade practices. Bertram Kawlath, the president of Europe’s largest industrial association (VDMA), joins The Zeitgeist to assess trends in the global …

The United States is reevaluating its place in the world, not only because of President Trump. The metamorphosis in American politics is affecting U.S. foreign policy profoundly, as well as …

The world’s leading economies are putting economic security at the top of their policy concerns. Among them, the European Union is taking a risk-based approach that seeks to deter weaponizable …

Two state elections in western Germany this month resulted in one win for Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democrats and two poor outcomes for the Social Democrats. The Alternative for Germany, meanwhile, performed better than ever before in a western German state election. What do these results reveal about the state of German politics after one year of the Merz government? Jeff Rathke, Eric Langenbacher, and Phyllis Berry discuss how the results could impact critical negotiations to spur economic g...

Five state elections will be held in Germany in 2026. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) enters this “super election year” in a strong position: it is the largest opposition party in the federal government, it continues to poll close to 25 percent nationally, and it has the potential to earn the most votes in the two eastern state elections in September. Dr. Wolfgang Muno joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss what is contributing to the AfD’s popularity, if recent nepotism scandals could...

The BSW (formerly the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, now Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Reason) had early successes after its founding in 2024, winning seats in the European Parliament and three state parliaments in eastern Germany. The BSW appeared poised to exploit a left-populist, anti-migration message and become a fixture on the political landscape. However, the BSW’s fortunes turned in 2025; they missed the threshold to join the Bundestag by less than 10,000 votes (the party has cha...

How have increased geopolitical competition and changing trade policy objectives affected the transatlantic relationship, and what are the shared priorities for German and U.S. business? On this episode of The Zeitgeist, CEO of DHL Group Tobias Meyer discusses the state of the transatlantic economic partnership, the future of global trade, and the outlook for European competitiveness. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Dr. Tobias Meyer, CEO, DHL Group Peter Rashish, Vice President and ...

The European security landscape is shifting. The United States is pressuring Europe to manage the defense of its region, and many NATO allies have growing doubts about the long-term reliability of the U.S. security guarantee, even as Russia continues aggression at NATO’s doorstep. German Chancellor Merz has articulated the goal for the Bundeswehr to be the strongest military in Europe. How does this ambition sit with one of Germany’s most important European partners—Poland? Justyna Gotkowska joi...

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been known for its foreign policy embrace of Russia and China, but in recent months, the party has turned its sights on building ties with the United States. In mid-December, a delegation of lawmakers from the party visited the United States, cultivating relationships in the Trump administration and wider MAGA movement. Non-Resident Senior Fellow Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger joins The Zeitgeist to discuss how the AfD’s foreign outreach could influence th...

Chancellor Merz has received praise internationally for many German foreign policy and defense initiatives in 2025: suspending the “debt brake” to allow for more security investments, expanding the Bundeswehr, committing to raising the defense spending proportion to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2029, and pursuing a more active diplomacy on security issues with European partners. While those initiatives resonate with the German public, Merz’s government still suffers from a record-low approval rating an...

In Washington, DC, LGBTQ+ organizations enhance the city’s cultural life, provide services, and represent the community’s political interests. At a time when LGBTQ+ communities are losing protections and facing increased …

The German economy is stagnating, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised an autumn of reforms. But are the government’s policies enough to restore competitiveness? Berenberg Chief Economist Holger Schmieding joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to analyze the domestic, European, and international dynamics with which German economic policies must contend and what the government can do to ensure the country’s prosperity and security. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Peter Rashish, Vi...

The dynamics of the transatlantic relationship are changing. As Europe faces the changing policies of the United States toward its alliances, Germany is investing in its armed forces at a historic rate and working to rebalance NATO’s burden-sharing. Die Zeit’s foreign editor Anna Sauerbrey joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss how the Trump administration’s “America First” policies are reshaping the German and European approaches to security and economic policy and Germans’ evolving vie...