Shows / DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Berlin Briefing has been named Best Political Podcast 2026 by the Podcast Publisher Awards - thank you! Every week we break down how events like Russia's war in Ukraine and European security shifts are shaping Germany - and the world. Whether you’re a student, journalist, or policymaker, hosts Nina Haase, Michaela Küfner, and Max Hofmann and their guests deliver the insights you need to understand where Germany is headed and why it matters, with a hint of Berlin's distinct energy. Subscribe to…
Episodes
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Can Germany's pivot to Asia end its reliance on...China?
As Chancellor Merz visits Asia, Germany seeks to "de-risk" from China. On this Berlin Briefing episode, DW's Giulia Saudelli, Steven Beardsley and Nina Haase…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Berlin Briefing recommends: Call Sign Condor
DW’s Max Hofmann speaks with DW correspondent Carolina Chimoy about her new podcast series, Call Sign Condor, which follows Latin American soldiers fighting in…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
If Europe wants independence, why does it keep turning to the US?
Europe wants growth, innovation and strategic autonomy. But can it become more competitive without becoming more dependent on the US? Max Hofmann speaks with…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
From intelligence scandals to Russia’s shadow war: Ex-Estonian defense chief Hanno Pevkur discusses Europe’s security challenges
At the Warsaw Security Forum, Nina Haase spoke with the ex-Estonian defense chief about Germany’s recent spy scandal and Russia. The bigger question: How can…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Former German Minister Habeck: Russia remains the biggest threat
From the Warsaw Security Forum, Nina Haase and Alexandra von Nahmen speak with Robert Habeck on Russia, the Arctic’s strategic role and democratic resilience.
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Former BND head arrested: Can Germany still be trusted with secrets?
As Germany's former spy chief is accused of selling state secrets, Berlin Briefing looks at the allegations, the fallout for the BND intelligence agency & the…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Can Ukraine still count on Germany?
Friedrich Merz says support for Ukraine is a matter of national interest. This week's Berlin Briefing asks whether a far-right AfD surge and Russia's return to…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Germany's great divide: Is Friedrich Merz losing the center?
In this Berlin Briefing, Nina Haase, Michaela Küfner and Max Hofmann discuss the far-right AfD party's ambitions, why Berlin's Left Party win is no Mamdani…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Germany's security gamble: More than an arms deal?
Is Germany buying security or dependence? This week on Berlin Briefing: Michaela Küfner, Nina Haase and Ines Pohl unpack Germany's latest US weapons deal…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
AfD and Russia: Why Saxony-Anhalt matters for Germany
The far-right AfD won a record 44% in Saxony-Anhalt. Is this a regional protest vote, or a broader shift in German politics? DW's Nina Haase, Max Hofmann…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Saxony-Anhalt elections: Interview with AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund
Ahead of Saxony-Anhalt's state elections, Berlin Briefing's Max Hofmann talks to Matthew Moore about his interview with AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund and…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Not at war, yet under attack: Germany's Russia challenge
Germany has officially blamed Russia for a suspected hybrid attack at Leipzig airport. Hosts Nina Haase and Max Hofmann discuss what that means for Germany and…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Berlin Briefing #100: Germany, Europe & the world – Your questions, our answers
For our 100th episode, DW’s Nina Haase, Michaela Küfner and Max Hofmann have come together with colleagues to answer the toughest questions that you've sent us…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Saxony-Anhalt elections: Interview with CDU candidate Sven Schulze
Ahead of the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin Briefing host Michaela Küfner interviewed Sven Schulze, state premier and the CDU's candidate.
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Saxony-Anhalt: An election that could change Germany? | Berlin Briefing Podcast
Could a regional vote by less than 3% of the German electorate reshape national politics and redefine the center parties' response to the far right? The AfD…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Germany's climate crisis: Why politics struggle to keep up
Germany is heating and drying up faster than ever. Yet climate change is not high on the agenda of many politicians. Together with sustainability researcher…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
“Was it Russia?” Is the Leipzig drone attack part of a hybrid war?
DW’s Michaela Küfner asks security analyst Hans-Jakob Schindler, disinformation expert Julia Smirnova and DW Riga Bureau Chief Juri Rescheto to piece together…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Is Germany's pension reform reopening the East-West divide?
A landmark pension reform is triggering backlash from eastern Germany and exposing deep divisions within Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party. Why is Germany's…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Germany's summer crisis: A cabinet reshuffle gone wrong?
An ad-hoc cabinet reshuffle backfired on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. With political egos flying and hurt feelings all around, could inner-party…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Merz Under Pressure: What the Berlin Pride Attack Changes for Germany
The attack on Berlin Pride has triggered a political debate. Calls for tougher security measures are getting louder, and pressure is mounting on Friedrich…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Burnham's German plan: Why Britain's new PM is looking to Europe
Brexit was supposed to pull Britain away from Europe. Yet 10 years on, Britain's new prime minister is championing ideas that look strikingly familiar to…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
What do war games reveal about Europe’s security future?
What can a war game tell us about a real-world security crisis? In this episode of Berlin Briefing, DW’s Nina Haase speaks with Carolina Drüten, International…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Boost or bust the AfD? Inside Friedrich Merz’ gamble to reform Germany
Can German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stop the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany? Germany's coalition government has launched sweeping reforms on…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
250 Years of USA: Where Germany needs to pivot now
As the United States marks 250 years of independence, Germany is confronting an uncomfortable question: can it still rely on its most important ally? Former…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
NATO under pressure: Can Germany be the European leader?
In this Berlin Briefing special from the Global Media Forum, DW’s Nina Haase and Max Hofmann are joined by NATO expert Gerlinde Niehus and Maximilian Mayer…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Rewriting the past? Inside the AfD's history agenda
Berlin Briefing looks at how Germany remembers the Holocaust and why it's being targeted by the far-right AfD. Björn Höcke rejects German collective guilt…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
World Cup 2026: Can Germany’s football team save the government?
As the World Cup kicks off, pundits in Germany are asking: Could success on the pitch help the coalition bounce back? In Berlin Briefing, host Max Hofmann…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Inside Germany's big UN defeat
Germany just suffered one of its biggest diplomatic setbacks in decades: losing a UN Security Council seat it thought was practically guaranteed. In this…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Will Germany stand up to the big tech bros?
Berlin Briefing host Michaela Küfner unpacks the Pope's call for responsible AI regulation and asks what Germany’s plans are to avoid a sell-out to big tech…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
What the AfD would do in power
The AfD is surging in the polls - in some regions, it's way out in front of Germany’s traditional parties. But despite record support, the far-right party…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Putin’s Contradictions: Attack Ukraine, Talk Deals, Propose Schröder
As Russia launches a fresh wave of attacks across Ukraine and the Kremlin signals it could pursue economic deals with the United States — under certain…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
US reduces troops in Germany: Is Donald Trump breaking up with Friedrich Merz?!
Is the relationship between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and US President Donald Trump on the rocks?!. Is the exchange of political fire that saw Merz…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Did Merz push Trump too far on Iran?
A blunt remark by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has triggered a sharp response from US President Donald Trump — and reopened questions about the state of…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Why is Chancellor Merz so unpopular — and is it fair?
Germany’s chancellor tops the wrong rankings: approval is at a record low and the AfD has overtaken the CDU/CSU in some polls. But do polls really capture…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Ukraine support: how and why is Germany different?
Germany and Ukraine have declared a new strategic partnership - but how much substance is behind the signal? In this episode, host Michaela Küfner discusses…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Hungary's election: Is Berlin betting against Orbán?
Hungary is heading into one of its most consequential elections in years - and all of Europe is watching closely. Officially, Berlin says it remains neutral…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
How the Iran war is forcing Germany to rethink energy
The energy shock from the Iran war is felt around the world, and in Germany, too. As rising prices hit consumers, the government is struggling to find a…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Can Germany reform its way out of the rise of the far right AfD?
Germany’s governing parties in Chancellor Merz’s coalition have just faced a moment of truth. The need for drastic reforms is hitting home in the Social…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Disagreements over Iran - are the US and Germany still friends?
As Washington pressures Europe over the Iran war, Germany is stuck between needing US support for Ukraine and not participating in the war in Iran. How has…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Under pressure: Can Merz steer Germany through 2026?
Germany enters a defining political year as five regional elections could shift power amid energy tensions. The Greens surge in Baden‑Württemberg with Cem…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Principle vs power: Merz, Trump & the Iran war
After the strikes on Iran, Europe is split and Germany must balance allies, international law, and growing instability. In Washington, Friedrich Merz confronts…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
What the Iran war means for the Middle East and beyond
As the fight against the Iranian regime hits European Union territory, host Michaela Küfner unpacks the latest strikes, Iran’s internal turmoil, and how this…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
How the tables are turning between Germany and China
Germany is bracing for the impact of a massive ‘China shock’ as trade imbalances and supply-chain risks threaten its economy. On his first Beijing visit as…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
What Peter Thiel has to do with Germany’s drones
Germany is racing to catch up in modern warfare. As the Bundeswehr prepares to buy combat drones, one name is causing political turbulence: Peter Thiel. How…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Can Europe and MAGA coexist? | Live from MSC 2026
Did US Secretary of State Marco Rubio just send Europe a political Valentine's card? And are Europeans ready to rebuild trust in their longtime partner? How do…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Beyond the big powers: Germany aims to diversify
Where is Germany really heading as it scrambles to diversify its foreign‑policy partnerships? In this Berlin Briefing, Nina Haase talks to Jakob Hensing (GPPi)…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Auschwitz: lessons for today's America + Germany
In this Holocaust Remembrance Day episode, Berlin Briefing explores rising hate crimes in Germany and the US, the politicization of antisemitism, and the…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Facing the future: Germany’s struggle with nuclear reliance on the US
Germany is famously "under the US’ nuclear umbrella"-creating a dependency that some are now calling risky. What exactly does that mean? How would US help…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Germany is running out of allies — Can India help?
With Germany and India both shaken by Trump 2.0, they’re now trying to deepen ties from business to defense – with Friedrich Merz greeted to much fanfare by…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
When diplomacy meets reality: Germany's balancing act with Trump’s America
Headlines coming out of the US shook the world in the first week of 2026: the military operation in Venezuela and Trump's talk of seizing Greenland. DW Berlin…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Why 2026 could be a milestone for Germany's AfD
2025 was the most successful year yet for Germany's AfD, or Alternative for Germany. It came second in national elections and recently topped some opinion…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Why Germany finds it so hard to handle China
2025 exposed Germany's dependence on China, as a source of rare earths and a market and production site for its industry. Berlin says it wants to "de-risk" the…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Germany's high-stakes EU gamble over Russia
Germany’s chancellor demanded a breakthrough. The EU summit delivered mixed results: Ukraine funding secured, Mercosur delayed. Is Friedrich Merz cementing…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Ukraine, US, and Europe: The race for a truce before Christmas
Could it really happen? Why you shouldn’t hold your breath for a quick ceasefire in Ukraine: In this episode of Berlin Briefing, host Michaela Küfner discusses…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Why Germany’s far-right AfD just founded a new youth wing
The far-right AfD has launched ‘Generation Germany,’ a new youth wing aiming to groom future party leaders. In this Berlin Briefing episode, host Nina Haase…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
A rift in the alliance? Trump’s Ukraine peace plan and Germany's response
"Russia’s wish list"- that’s how many in Washington and Berlin labelled Washington’s initial 28-point plan toward peace in Ukraine, when it first became…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
DW interview with German chancellor Friedrich Merz
As negotiations over a 28-point plan for Ukraine intensify, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warns of a "deep threat" to Europe’s security architecture. Merz…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Young Vs Old? How a fight over pensions is shaking the German government
18 young conservative MPs have rebelled against the pension reform - threatening the coalition between conservatives and social democrats. Is this Friedrich…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Conscription comeback: Will Germany find 80.000 new soldiers?
It’s a deal: Germany’s coalition has agreed to restart military conscription from January 2026. DW's Berlin Briefing hosts Michaela Küfner and Nina Haase speak…
- DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Back to Syria? Germany's conservatives face off on deportation plans
Germany’s conservatives are in turmoil after Foreign Minister Wadephul’s visit to Syria. His remarks about the country’s dire living conditions — and the…