Episodes

The center-left Social Democrats are the junior coalition partner in Friedrich Merz’s government, but they hold two of the most important portfolios for implementing Germany’s security policy revolution known as the “Zeitenwende”—finance and defense. On this episode of The Zeitgeist, Member of the Bundestag and former Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Hubertus Heil discusses the SPD’s stance on Russia and Ukraine and Germany’s efforts to strengthen the Bundeswehr, including the thorny issue o...

Ties between far-right parties and movements in Europe and the United States are growing. Annett Meiritz and Juliane Schäuble join this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss their forthcoming book Die Allianz der Neuen Rechten (The Alliance of the New Right; Publisher: Heyne), which examines how these movements are building networks, learning from each other, and working together. They also discuss how these movements are mobilizing culture wars and their influence on transatlantic relations. Hos...

The global trading system is in flux, with increased multipolarity and uncertainty. Disruptions in supply chains and concerns about sustainability and national security have caused countries to reexamine trade policies. Dr. Luz Ma de la Mora, Director of UNCTAD’s Division on International Trade and Commodities, joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss the role of multilateralism in global trade, the characteristics of the future trading system, and how international trade can benefit emerg...

Germany’s defense commitments are beginning to match the ambitions of the Zeitenwende, and Germany’s increased investments in European security are being noted in Washington. In his first visit to the United States in his role as Coordinator of Transatlantic Cooperation, Member of the Bundestag Metin Hakverdi (SPD) joins The Zeitgeist to discuss how Germany’s new approach to burden-sharing is impacting the wider U.S.-German relationship, his impressions from meetings with political leaders in th...

Even though it came in second place in the 2025 German federal election, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) was subsequently classified as an extremist party by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesverfassungsschutz, BfV). This has renewed discussions in Germany about banning the party as a threat to the democratic order. Dr. Russell Miller, an expert in German constitutional law, joins The Zeitgeist to discuss the purpose of the BfV, previous attempts to ban parties in German...

Third spaces where people can gather, organize, and provide support have been critical for LGBTQ+ communities in Germany and the United States. “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States” participant Baylen Campbell joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss how LGBTQ+ groups can build capital and invest in themselves in order to preserve these spaces, especially as funding gaps and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation threatens to close them. He also discusses best practices in the Un...

President Trump claims the international trading system is unfair to the United States. The Trump administration is seeking to rectify trade imbalances through tariffs and is trying to reshape the global economy. Member of the European Parliament Daniel Caspary joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss how Europe is responding to the U.S. administration’s trade measures and the importance of continued transatlantic engagement. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Daniel Caspary, Memb...

The LGBTQ+ communities in Germany and the United States have been working toward greater legal rights, but laws and politicians in both countries have threatened to not only halt progress but take away already existing protections. Two participants from the AGI project “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States” join The Zeitgeist to discuss the current status of LGBTQ+ rights in each country, the relationship between the LGBTQ+ activists and politics, and the role of LGBTQ+ p...

In his second term, President Trump has continued his criticism of NATO and European allies’ defense efforts while the United States pursues a reset with Russia—the main threat to European …

The Trump administration has taken sweeping actions on tariffs, with more scheduled to be imposed in April. On this episode of The Zeitgeist, Kim Clausing explains the administration’s approach to tariffs and their role in wider economic policy. She also discusses whether value-added taxes or digital services taxes constitute trade barriers and how these may affect trade relations between the European Union and the United States. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Kimberly Clausing, Eri...

For decades, memory culture in Germany has largely focused on coming to terms with and memorializing the Holocaust. In recent years, however, memory discourses have expanded to include, among others, Germany’s colonial history, particularly crimes committed in the territory of contemporary Namibia. Dr. Priscilla Layne discusses how German memory culture is evolving, how analogies can aid in understanding atrocities, and how the arts can bring awareness to overlooked histories. Host Jeff Rathke...

Shortly after the polls closed in Germany, Jeff Rathke, Eric Langenbacher, and Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger discussed the results of the snap elections. They give their reactions to the performance of the parties and what motivated such a high turnout. They also predict how the results will impact the coalition formation in the coming months and Germany’s international role in the coming years. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guests Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger, AGI Non-Resident Senior Fellow ...

Climate change can create national security risks, test military resilience, and redefine how countries pursue their geopolitical interests. Sherri Goodman, author of Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security, joins The Zeitgeist to discuss how the Department of Defense is addressing and adapting to the challenge of climate change and the role of allied military cooperation. She also offers perspectives on the role that climate change is playing in the Tr...

With the German elections slated for February 23, Member of the Bundestag Omid Nouripour, a former national co-chairman of the Green Party, joins The Zeitgeist to discuss the issues shaping the campaign. He analyzes challenges that the next coalition will face and the outlook for transatlantic relations with a new U.S. administration. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guest Omid Nouripour, Member of the Bundestag (Alliance 90/The Greens) Transcript Jeff Rathke I want to welcome all of our ...

Germany votes for a new parliament on February 23. While the center-right Christian Democrats maintain a lead in the polls, the three parties of Olaf Scholz’s outgoing “traffic light” coalition all have suffered reduced support compared to 2021. A result of this volatility is that the next Bundestag could have as many as seven or as few as four parties. In any case, the far-right AfD party is on track for its strongest national showing ever. Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger joins The Zeitgeist to disc...

Who does the United States call when it wants to call Europe, especially as Germany enters a transition through early elections and France experiences political turmoil? Dr. Phyllis Berry joins The Zeitgeist to discuss which people and countries are taking on leadership in Europe and who will drive decision-making in 2025. Host Jeff Rathke, President, AGI Guest Phyllis Berry, National Intelligence Officer for Europe, National Intelligence Council Transcript Jeff Rathke Well, welcome to al...

The second Trump administration will take office in just over one month—how will it approach the European security order and trade with the European Union? What risks and opportunities does a new administration represent for Germany? How will relations with China affect Germany’s competitiveness and the transatlantic relationship? As Germany’s federal election campaign begins, it is clear that the next coalition will be made up of different parties than Chancellor Scholz’s “Traffic Light” coalit...

For thirty-five years, the LSVD+ – Queer Diversity Association has been representing the interests of LGBTQ+ people in Germany. Its managing director Klaus Jetz joins The Zeitgeist to discuss how …

The year 2025 will bring not only a new U.S. administration but also a new EU Commission. What will these changes mean for Germany and the United States, and what aspirations does Chancellor Scholz’ coalition have for the European Union? Almut Möller, Director for European and Global Affairs at the European Policy Centre, joins the Zeitgeist to discuss. What would different election outcomes mean for European action on competitiveness and security? How does President Ursula von der Leyen’s ambit...

In September 2024, participants in AGI’s project “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States: Past, Present, and Future” traveled to New York City for site visits and discussions about queer activism and rights, including a trip to the Stonewall National Monument. In 1969, the Stonewall riots against police harassment and brutality launched what would become an international movement for LGBTQ+ rights. Two participants, Phuong Tran and Lennart Linke, join the Zeitgeist to refle...

The German economic model is facing headwinds: a loss of secure energy from Russia, renewed urgency to rebuild its defense capabilities, and a fragmenting global economy where not everyone plays by the rules. Can Germany implement an economic Zeitenwende to spark growth, and what role does Europe play in managing the new economic order? President of the Kiel Institute for World Economy Dr. Moritz Schularick joins The Zeitgeist to discuss the German economy, how German politics is impacting new i...

In state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to first and second place, respectively, with over 30 percent of the vote in both states. The left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW)—only in existence since January—came in third in both states, receiving more votes than any party in the current national governing coalition. This episode of The Zeitgeistexamines what motivated voters to leave mainstream parties for the political extremes, what dyn...

At least since the Hiroshima G7 summit in May 2023, the United States and the European Union have been explicitly calling upon trade policy to advance their economic security. While trade practitioners have been wrestling with the related concept of national security since before the creation of the World Trade Organization, economic security is a relatively new element in the debate. As part of the AGI-Konrad Adenauer Foundation 2024 Transatlantic Trade Week, Jennifer Thornton of the Business R...

The eastern German states of Saxony and Thuringia will vote in state elections on September 1, and Brandenburg will vote on September 22. The populist radical-right Alternative for Germany (Alternative für Deutschland, AfD) finished in second place in the 2024 European Parliament elections, and they are polling in first place in all three states. What explains the growing strength of the party, despite its increasing extremism and a series of recent scandals? AGI Non-Resident Senior Fellow Klaus...