DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
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 Richard Walker deliver the insights you need to understand where Germany is headed and why it matters, with a hint of Berlin's distinct energy. Published every Friday. Find us also on YouTube: @dwnews. Subscribe to our newsletter: dw.com/berlinbriefing. Leave us a comment here: [email protected]. Or find us on X: @dw_politics.
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Last Episode : April 25, 2025 8:05am
Last Scanned : 4.8 hours ago
Episodes
Episodes currently hosted on IPFS.
Confirmed 4
Why Ukraine can't sign off on Trump's 'deal'Is Crimea the key to peace in Ukraine? On today’s episode, we break down Donald Trump’s claim that President Zelenskyy is prolonging the war by resisting calls to cede the Ukrainian peninsula Crimea to Russia. Our guests have updates on a devastating attack in Kyiv and on Friedrich Merz' controversial Taurus missile hint.
Expires in 19 hours
Published Friday
1Germany’s incoming government will face a geopolitical nightmare from Day 1. Stuck between a hostile White House and a China which threatens Germany’s crucial auto industry. Can likely Chancellor Friedrich Merz handle both at the same time? In this edition of Berlin Briefing, Richard Walker jumps into the Germany-China-US dynamic with Andrew Small of GMF and DW’s Melissa Chan in Taipei.
Published 04/17
1Germany's likely next government has published its much-awaited coalition agreement. The political marriage document between Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU party and the Social Democrat SPD marks a clamp down on migration. It also promises a huge boost for Germany's struggling economy. But will Merz's plan to stop the deindustrialization of Germany work?
Published 04/11
1Migration is again a defining political battleground in Germany. With Friedrich Merz pushing for a 'Migrationswende,' his election victory brings promises of change, but coalition politics may complicate the path forward. Can Germany’s next government deliver on tougher migration policies, or will compromises dilute the vision?
Published 04/04
1Turkey’s President Erdogan has had the mayor of Istanbul Imamoglu arrested. The EU condemns the arrest but stops short of threatening any action. In this episode DW’s Michaela Küfner asks whether Europe can afford standing up to Erdogan? Her guests, Can Merey (RND) and former EU ambassador to Turkey Marc Pierini map out why Germany and Europe are so highly dependent on Erdogan.
Published 03/28
1Donald Trump is reshaping America’s ties with its allies. Will his policies push EU states to unite? Why should anyone who cares about democracy be paying close attention to the relationship between Germany and France? And why is Germany tightening its US travel advice? DW’s Nina Haase explores these questions with Max Hofmann (DW) and Jacob Ross (DGAP) in this episode of Berlin Briefing.
Published 03/21
1Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz is already hailed as the man who could forge what the EU needs most: unity. So far he has seen a lot of advance praise, but how will his ambition to turn Germany from a “hesitant” to a “leading middle power” really be felt in Europe?
Published 03/13
1Friedrich Merz, Germany’s likely next chancellor, has stirred up political waters with his bold "whatever it takes" stance. In a massive shift, Merz and the Social Democrats have jointly announced a plan to rearm Germany and heavily invest in infrastructure. In this episode, we break it all down with expert insights from Ralph Bollmann, journalist (FAS), and Benjamin Hilgenstock from the DGAP.
Published 03/07
1Germany’s incoming leaders are planning to dramatically ramp up military spending after signs the Trump administration could definitively pivot away from European defense. DW breaks down the next steps for likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz: Procuring drones, satellites and more high-tech gear. Recruiting tens of thousands of troops. And trying to work out a European nuclear deterrent.
Published 02/28
1Who will lead Germany next? In this episode of Berlin Briefing, we break down the key players in Germany’s upcoming elections, the ripple effects of JD Vance’s game-changing MSC 2025 speech and its impact on Europe’s security, and why smaller parties could complicate the formation of the next coalition. Plus, we reveal what the latest polls are saying and share final predictions.
Published 02/21
1At a memorable Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance lectured the Europeans on what democracy should really mean, questioning its institutions. In this special edition from Munich, host Michaela Küfner breaks down the messages from MSC 2025 together with Jackson Janes (German Marshall Fund), Peter R. Neumann (King's College London) and DW's Brussels correspondent Teri Schultz.
Published 02/17
1How do women leaders in Europe view current security challenges? Will the US be a reliable ally? Are democracies around the world under threat? DW’s Berlin Briefing and One Decision Podcast teamed up to host a powerful, all-female panel at the MSC: Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, former Icelandic Foreign Minister Thordis Gylfadottir, and former Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Kajsa Ollongren.
Published 02/15