Claim OwnershipDW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics
Subscribed: 115Played: 2,262
Subscribe
© 2026 DW
Description
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: newsletter@dw.com. Or find us on X: @dw_politics.
70 Episodes
Reverse
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 Germany and its European allies wield their leverage in a multipolar world?
Live at the MSC 2026, Michaela Küfner and Nina Haase dissect the Merz government’s approach with CDU/CSU Chief Whip Jens Spahn and the Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer.
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) about Germany’s evolving role in a tense, multipolar world. Richard Walker and Michaela Küfner join in to share rare first‑hand insights from traveling with German officials on diplomatic missions to the Indo‑Pacific and the Gulf.
In this Holocaust Remembrance Day episode, Berlin Briefing explores rising hate crimes in Germany and the US, the politicization of antisemitism, and the broader dangers of state power targeting vulnerable communities.
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 protect Germany in a worst-case scenario? What options does Germany have to move toward a European umbrella?
Host Nina Haase talks with her guests about Germany’s deep dependencies on the US -from NATO cooperation to nuclear deterrence.
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 Narendra Modi in the Indian Prime Minister’s home city. But is this for real, or are the good vibes just for show? Find out in this edition of Berlin Briefing with Richard Walker, Biresh Banerjee, Michaela Küfner, and Sandra Petersmann.
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 Briefing host Nina Haase and her guests, Michaela Küfner (DW) and Thorsten Benner (Global Public Policy Institute) discuss whether Germany's relative silence is strategic restraint or helplessness in the face of US assertiveness.
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 polls. Now in 2026, the party could win power in state elections for the first time. In this Berlin Briefing, Richard Walker and Matthew Moore analyze what could be another year of breakthroughs with Kate Brady of the Washington Post.
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 relationship. But is it serious? Or is it in too deep? Richard Walker sat down with experts Noah Barkin and Clifford Coonan to analyze Germany's options.
Germany’s chancellor demanded a breakthrough. The EU summit delivered mixed results: Ukraine funding secured, Mercosur delayed. Is Friedrich Merz cementing Germany’s leadership—or exposing Europe to unnecessary risks? Berlin Briefing host Nina Haase, DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner and Daniel Goffart (WirtschaftsWoche) unpack the stakes, the style, and what this means for 2026.
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 the current flurry of diplomacy between Washington, Berlin, Kyiv, and Moscow over Trump’s revised plan for Ukraine, and what the new US security strategy means for Europeans and the future of the transatlantic partnership.
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 and journalists Matthew Moore and Hans Pfeifer unpack its founding, the protests, ties to extremist networks, and what it means for Germany’s political landscape.
"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 public. DW’s Nina Haase and Michaela Küfner discuss with Dominik Tolksdorf (DGAP) how a total sell-out of Europe was prevented, and how deep this latest crack in US-German relations now runs in the transatlantic alliance.
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 outlines Europe’s leverage, Africa’s growing role in global politics, and speaks about his hopes that China could push Russia toward ending the war.
18 young conservative MPs have rebelled against the pension reform - threatening the coalition between conservatives and social democrats. Is this Friedrich Merz’s biggest stability test yet? DW’s Michaela Küfner, Nina Haase and Steven Beardsley break down the demographics, the economics, and the political drama behind Germany’s pension showdown.
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 to Marcel Bohnert, deputy head of the Bundeswehr Association and Quentin Gärtner from Germany’s school pupils' association about the new model that will make it compulsory for 18-year-old men to undergo an armed forces physical test.
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 unlikelihood of large-scale returns — have sparked backlash within his own party. Is the push for repatriation grounded in reality — or is it just political theater? Nina Haase breaks it down with Daniel Thym, Aya Ibrahim, and Michaela Küfner.
What does it take to get Europe defense-ready — and how soon must it act?
In this Berlin Briefing from the Berlin Global Dialogue, DW’s Michaela Küfner speaks with EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius and DW’s Alexandra von Nahmen about Europe’s response to Russian provocations, the urgency of military preparedness, and whether EU member states are truly united in facing the threat.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz just said that the world is witnessing 'the provisional end of a rules-based multilateral order.' So, is Germany abandoning its role as a champion of international law? DW’s Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner breaks down the global power shift with Thorsten Benner, Director of the Global Public Policy Institute, and Ines Pohl, DW Washington Bureau Chief.
Monday saw a dramatic public hearing where the heads of Germany's top intelligence agencies warned: "We're already in the fire." Facing sabotage, hybrid warfare, and Russian espionage, they're asking for more powers and fewer controls—and hinting at a shift toward offensive tactics.
Germany's AfD is knocking on Washington's door—and Trump's team is answering. Over the last few months, AfD politicians have met with US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, and received open support from Trump allies during Germany's election. In this episode, we ask: Why is the AfD seeking US backing? Where do the AfD and the MAGA movement align—and where do they clash?
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States