Nach AfD-Wahl: Ist Merz angezählt?

Die AfD wird bei der Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt mit 43,8 Prozent stärkste Kraft. Die CDU stürzt auf 17,2 Prozent ab. Für Friedrich Merz ist das eine bittere Bilanz – schließlich hatte er einst versprochen, die AfD zu halbieren. ‚@ Mr Wissen 2 go‘ Mirko Drotschmann schaut in diesem Video, wie gefährlich das Ergebnis für den Kanzler Friedrich Merz wirklich werden könnte.

Wie hart trifft das Ergebnis die Bundes-CDU?
Das Ergebnis ist für die CDU verheerend und es trifft die Bundespartei ausgerechnet zu einem Zeitpunkt, an dem ihre Beliebtheitswerte ohnehin im Keller sind. Merz erntete zuletzt viel Kritik für seine angekündigten Reformen. Auch aus den eigenen Reihen wird der Ton schärfer: CDA-Vorsitzender Dennis Radtke etwa fordert einen Kurswechsel hin zu mehr Arbeitnehmerinteressen.

Warum ist ein Rücktritt von Friedrich Merz trotzdem unwahrscheinlich?
Dafür gibt es mehrere Gründe. Es fehlt der CDU einer echten Alternative, eine Ablösung bräuchte Mehrheiten im Bundestag, und ein Nachfolger würde die Grundprobleme der Union kaum automatisch lösen. Denkbar wäre höchstens ein Modell wie einst bei Angela Merkel: Parteivorsitz abgeben, Kanzleramt behalten.

Was passiert als Nächstes?
Bis zu den Wahlen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern und Berlin am 20. September dürfte die CDU laut Politikwissenschaftlerin Andrea Römmele eher zusammenhalten – die eigentliche Personaldebatte könnte danach erst richtig beginnen.

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines

September 10, 2026

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Hoping to Salvage Midterms, Trump Makes Dubious Pledge to Give Every US Adult $5,000 • FRANCE 24

Sap 10, 2026 | President Donald Trump pledged Wednesday to send every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, an extraordinary gambit to reverse his party's sagging fortunes in November.

The dubious promise would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval and would further exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit and concerns about inflation.

FRANCE 24's International Affairs Commentator Douglas Herbert tells us more.

Inside the Far-right Blueprint for Germany’s Eurasian Future | DW Analysis

Sep 6, 2026 | Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is surging, with breakthroughs in regional and EU-wide elections. Party leader Alice Weidel says her goal is national power, eyeing the 2029 federal elections.

Despite its growing support, the AfD’s vision of foreign policy remains little known around the world. So in this new special report, DW takes a forensic microscope to the party’s blueprint for Germany’s future.

What this reveals is the party’s profound skepticism about the key Western alliances — NATO and the EU — and an outspoken openness to a Eurasian outlook, fostering deeper relations with Russia and China and the international institutions they lead, from the Belt and Road Initiative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union: prime sources of prestige for Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Xi Jinping in Beijing.

In exclusive interviews with Alice Weidel, foreign policy spokesman Matthias Moosdorf and powerful ideologue Björn Höcke, DW’s Richard Walker and Rosalia Romaniec scrutinize the AfD’s views on Germany’s alliances and NATO Article 5 commitments to the Baltic states and Poland, its skepticism of the United States, possible future architectures for European defense, who should have nuclear weapons, future ties with Russia and China, and how Germany should act in a Taiwan conflict scenario.

Includes analysis from leading international experts on Russia, China, the US and Europe: Alexander Gabuev (Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center), Amanda Hsiao (International Crisis Group), Katarzyna Pisarska (Warsaw Security Forum), Peter Rough (Hudson Institute), and Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Europe).

Steve Rosenberg: "Hole in Russia's State Budget" Bigger Than Expected

Sep 10, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: “hole in the state budget” bigger than expected; “growing demand in Russia for insurance cover for drone attacks”. And a senior official claims: “Russia can survive only as a great power. We’re either a great power, or nothing.”

Historiker Marco Jorio hinterfragt die Neutralitätsinitiative

Sep 9, 2026 | Die Neutralitätsinitiative verspricht Klarheit – doch Historiker Marco Jorio befürchtet, dass dadurch eher neue Verwirrung entsteht.

Was ist Neutralität wirklich? Schützt sie die Schweiz vor Krieg? Und was würde die Initiative konkret ändern?

Im NZZ-Interview analysiert der Historiker für Schweizer Geschichte die Fakten hinter dem Mythos – und erklärt, warum die geostrategische Lage die Schweiz im Zweiten Weltkrieg schützte und nicht die Neutralität allein.

Can Dubai’s Luxe Image Survive the War with Iran? | BBC News

Sep 8, 2026 | As the summer holiday season draws to a close, foreigners travelling to and from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates are facing delays, cancellations and severe travel warnings.

The disruption comes as a result of the UAE’s position in the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Throughout the conflict, Iran has attacked the UAE more times than any other country, including Israel.

Until the war with Iran began, Dubai was a major tourist destination, famous for its modern skyscrapers, luxurious beaches and low crime rate.

For decades, the Gulf city has promised residents and tourists alike safety, security and stability – so has that promise fallen apart? And what could that mean for the city’s future?

The Global Story’s Asma Khalid speaks to Sameer Hashmi, an independent journalist based in Dubai, about how Brand Dubai is weathering a major regional war.

Wieso China so gefährlich, aber zerbrechlich ist | Marcus Keupp

Sep 8, 2026 | China will die führende Weltmacht werden - mit wirtschaftlicher und militärischer Stärke. Wie das Land der Mitte das schaffen möchte und was das für die USA und uns in Europa bedeutet, darüber sprechen wir mit Militärökonom Marcus Keupp von der ETH Zürich. Und wir reden darüber, wieso ein Konflikt mit Russland droht und woran Chinas globale Dominanz scheitern könnte.

Steve Rosenberg: What Are Today's Russian Papers Saying about Russia's Economic Problems?

September 8, 2026

Global Ripples from a Small German Election | DW News

Sep 8, 2026 | The far-right AfD's success in recent regional elections in Germany has drawn praise from the United States. American tech billionaire Elon Musk congratulated the AfD after its strong result in Saxony-Anhalt with a brief German message: "Gut gemacht!", or "Well Done!" in English. The AfD state leader Ulrich Siegmund responded by thanking Musk and suggesting future economic cooperation. President Donald Trump also drew attention by posting a screenshot of German election projections on Truth Social. Together with Eric Langenbacher from the American-German Institute, DW's Ben Fajzullin discusses what the reaction says about transatlantic ties between right and far-right political movements.

How Will the Far-right AfD's Electoral Rise Impact Germany? | Inside Story

Sep 7, 2026 | The Alternative for Germany is on top in Sunday's election in the east German state of Saxony-Anhalt, with about 44 percent of the vote. It's benefited from voters' economic concerns and anger over immigration. The party is also leading in national polls. But Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified its branch in Saxony-Anhalt as a proven right-wing extremist group, a label the AfD rejects. Chancellor Friedrich Merz insists there can be no co-operation with the AfD, and mainstream German parties have been maintaining a 'firewall' against forming coalitions with the far-right. But it's not clear if the strategy will hold.

Presenter: Rishaad Salamat

Guests:

Olaf Boehnke - Berlin Director of the political consultancy Rasmussen Global and former Senior Advisor in the German Bundestag
Max Otte - Founder of Privatinvestor Capital and a 2022 German presidential candidate
Ulrich Brueckner - Professor of European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin

Steve Rosenberg: Diplomacy of the Doomed": What the Russian Papers Are Saying about US Talks with Putin

Sep 7, 2026 | "Diplomacy of the Doomed" is how one of today's Russian papers sums up Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's talks with Vladimir Putin, adding "Their mission was doomed to underachievement from the outset."

Richard Wolff: America Is Trying to Rebuild Its Empire

September 6, 2026 | Prof. Richard Wolff discusses why the new phase of American Colonialism.

They Lost Their Life Savings

People losing their hard-earned money because of “scumbags”. Saagar Enjeti and Tucker Carlson discuss.

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: Change, Apples and a National Idea

September 6, 2026 | What has been changing in Russia? What were the Russian papers writing about last week? Plus, memories of Soviet TV.

Dr Richard Wolff: "Say Goodbye to the American Dream" | August 19, 2026

Aug 19, 2026 | In this week's Wolff Responds: Professor Wolff discusses how the United States is no longer truly a rich nation.

READ THE GE ARTICLE: Americans are NOT wealthy: The truth about the US economy: Media outlets often claim Americans are wealthier than Europeans, but it’s not true. Average wealth looks high, but is skewed by extreme inequality. US median wealth is quite low. This is the real data. »

Was hat Deutschland bloß so ruiniert? | Maurice Höfgen

Sep 4, 2026 | Wirtschaftsexperte Maurice Höfgen erklärt, wie Deutschland aus der Krise käme, wo die Regierung versagt und wieso die AfD das falsche Rezept bietet

Democracy Now! Top US News & World Headlines

September 4, 2026

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Why Is the Netherlands Moving Its Gold Out of America? | The Palki Sharma Show | India Global Review

Sep 3, 2026 | The Dutch central bank has moved more than 78 tonnes of gold, worth over $10 billion, from New York to London, citing “crisis preparedness”. It has also removed seven tonnes from Canada. France made a similar move last year, withdrawing its gold from New York. Reports later suggested European concerns about storing reserves in the United States amid uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s policies. The moves come as central banks increasingly favour gold.

Guerre en Ukraine : les États-Unis vont réclamer à l’Europe le remboursement des aides versées à Kiev, affirme Donald Trump

Cette image provient de cet article du Figaro. | Le président américain, Donald Trump. Kevin DIETSCH / Getty Images via AFP
LE FIGARO : Le président américain a également critiqué les informations, dans un message publié sur les réseaux sociaux, faisant état d’une forte diminution des stocks de munitions américains dans le contexte d’un autre conflit en Iran.

Le président américain Donald Trump a déclaré jeudi qu’il demanderait aux pays européens de rembourser aux États-Unis l’aide militaire et les munitions précédemment envoyées à l’Ukraine dans le cadre de la guerre en cours avec la Russie, et a semblé laisser entendre un arrêt des ventes aux pays alliés. Dans un message publié sur les réseaux sociaux, Donald Trump a également critiqué les informations faisant état d’une forte diminution des stocks de munitions américains dans le contexte d’un autre conflit en Iran, tout en ajoutant que les États-Unis intensifiaient leur production et constituaient des stocks de munitions. » | Par Le Figaro avec Reuters | vendredi 4 septembre 2026