x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

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:

news news commentary

All Episodes

33:07

Principle vs power: Merz, Trump & the Iran war

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/03/06

After the strikes on Iran, Europe is split and Germany must balance allies, international law, and growing instability. In Washington, Friedrich Merz confronts an unpredictable political climate and shifting power dynamics. Host Nina Haase discusses the aftermath of Merz’s DC visit with DW’s chief political editor Michaela Küfner and DW’s Washington bureau chief Ines Pohl.

en

13:20

What the Iran war means for the Middle East and beyond

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/03/02

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 latest escalation pushes German Chancellor Merz to put the necessity to stand by his allies, the US and Israel, above international law. DW’s Richard Walker and Niloofar Gholami offer their perspectives on this history in the making.

en

33:40

How the tables are turning between Germany and China

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/02/27

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 chancellor, Friedrich Merz urges China to act — but does he have leverage? And how firm is his derisking push, given resistance from German business? Richard Walker breaks it down with Michaela Küfner and Thorsten Benner (GPPi).

en

32:40

What Peter Thiel has to do with Germany’s drones

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/02/20

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 much influence does the controversial investor really have — and should lawmakers approve the deal?Host Nina Haase breaks it all down with Christopher F. Schuetze (The New York Times), Emil Archambault (DGAP), and Roman Goncharenko (DW).

en

43:14

Can Europe and MAGA coexist?

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/02/14

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.

en

35:22

Beyond the big powers: Germany aims to diversify

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/02/06

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.

en

27:05

Auschwitz: lessons for today's America + Germany

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/01/30

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.

en

44:42

Facing the future: Germany’s struggle with nuclear...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/01/23

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.

en

44:18

Germany is running out of allies — Can India help?

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/01/16

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.

en

37:31

When diplomacy meets reality: Germany's balancing act...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/01/09

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.

en

41:26

Why 2026 could be a milestone for Germany's AfD

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2026/01/02

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.

en

43:53

Why Germany finds it so hard to handle China

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/12/26

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.

en

30:25

Germany's high-stakes EU gamble over Russia

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/12/19

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.

en

33:41

Ukraine, US, and Europe: The race for a truce before...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/12/12

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.

en

36:04

Why Germany’s far-right AfD just founded a new youth...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/12/04

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.

en

29:47

A rift in the alliance? Trump’s Ukraine peace plan...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/11/28

"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.

en

06:20

DW interview with German chancellor Friedrich Merz

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/11/24

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.

en

38:10

Young Vs Old? How a fight over pensions is shaking...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/11/21

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.

en

36:51

Conscription comeback: Will Germany find 80.000 new...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/11/14

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.

en

40:46

Back to Syria? Germany's conservatives face off on...

DW Berlin Briefing - Inside German politics ·

2025/11/06

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.

en

63 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci