The Zeitgeist

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The Zeitgeist delves into topics affecting Germany, the United States, and the transatlantic relationship. Hosted by AICGS President Jeff Rathke, the show welcomes guests from the policy, academic, and think tank communities, as well as in-house AICGS experts. Produced by the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

AICGS | American Institute for Contemporary German Studies

Washington, DC


    • May 13, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 156 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Zeitgeist

    Episode 126: Pride and Politics: The Complex Relationship between the LGBTIQ+ Community and Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 41:07


    The LGBTQ+ communities in Germany and the United States have been working toward greater legal rights, but laws and politicians in both countries have threatened to not only halt progress …

    Episode 125: The Future of the U.S. Security Relationship with Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 35:33


    In his second term, President Trump has continued his criticism of NATO and European allies' defense efforts while the United States pursues a reset with Russia—the main threat to European …

    Episode 124: Tariffs, Taxes, and Their International Ramifications

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 33:17


    The Trump administration has taken sweeping actions on tariffs, with more scheduled to be imposed in April. On this episode of The Zeitgeist, Kim Clausing explains the administration's approach to …

    Episode 123: An Expanding German Memory Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 29:31


    For decades, memory culture in Germany has largely focused on coming to terms with and memorializing the Holocaust. In recent years, however, memory discourses have expanded to include, among others, …

    Episode 122: The German Bundestag Election Results

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 38:21


    Shortly after the polls closed in Germany, Jeff Rathke, Eric Langenbacher, and Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger discussed the results of the snap elections. They give their reactions to the performance of the …

    Episode 121: Climate Change and National Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 27:31


    Climate change can create national security risks, test military resilience, and redefine how countries pursue their geopolitical interests. Sherri Goodman, author of Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight …

    Episode 120: The Issues Driving German Politics One Month from the Bundestag Election

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 28:24


    With the German elections slated for February 23, Member of the Bundestag Omid Nouripour, a former national co-chairman of the Green Party, joins The Zeitgeist to discuss the issues shaping the campaign. …

    Episode 119: Voter Volatility and Political Stagnation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 37:22


    Germany votes for a new parliament on February 23. While the center-right Christian Democrats maintain a lead in the polls, the three parties of Olaf Scholz's outgoing “traffic light” coalition …

    Episode 118: Is There a Leadership Vacuum in Europe?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 32:58


    Who does the United States call when it wants to call Europe, especially as Germany enters a transition through early elections and France experiences political turmoil? Dr. Phyllis Berry joins …

    Episode 117: Germany in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 27:48


    The second Trump administration will take office in just over one month—how will it approach the European security order and trade with the European Union? What risks and opportunities does …

    Episode 116: The Evolution of LGBTQ+ Rights in Germany

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 32:55


    For thirty-five years, the LSVD+ – Queer Diversity Association has been representing the interests of LGBTQ+ people in Germany. Its managing director Klaus Jetz joins The Zeitgeist to discuss how …

    Episode 115: The U.S. Election and Germany in Europe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 32:21


    The year 2025 will bring not only a new U.S. administration but also a new EU Commission. What will these changes mean for Germany and the United States, and what …

    Episode 114: The Transatlantic Legacy of Stonewall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 35:00


    In September 2024, participants in AGI's project “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States: Past, Present, and Future” traveled to New York City for site visits and discussions …

    Episode 113: A Geoeconomic Europe?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 30:44


    The German economic model is facing headwinds: a loss of secure energy from Russia, renewed urgency to rebuild its defense capabilities, and a fragmenting global economy where not everyone plays …

    Episode 112: Eastern State Elections and Their Implications for National Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 35:36


    In state elections in Thuringia and Saxony, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to first and second place, respectively, with over 30 percent of the vote in both states. …

    Episode 111: Trade and Transatlantic Economic Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 37:10


    At least since the Hiroshima G7 summit in May 2023, the United States and the European Union have been explicitly calling upon trade policy to advance their economic security. While …

    Episode 110: The Continued Strength of the AfD

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 39:19


    The eastern German states of Saxony and Thuringia will vote in state elections on September 1, and Brandenburg will vote on September 22. The populist radical-right Alternative for Germany (Alternative …

    Episode 109: Angela Merkel's Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 37:46


    Germany's longest-serving chancellor of the twenty-first century was also uniquely successful; Angela Merkel left office after sixteen years with an approval rating of over 70 percent. As Germany must now …

    Episode 108: The Role of Germany's Anti-Semitism Commissioners

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2024 38:40


    In 2019, the federal states established the Joint Federal and State Commission to Fight Anti-Semitism and Protect Jewish Life. This initiative builds on Germany's decades-long political and civil society efforts …

    Episode 107: Interpreting the European Parliament Elections

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 36:14


    From June 6 to 9, citizens across the European Union's 27 member states voted for the 720 seats in the European Parliament. The center-right had the strongest result, with the …

    Episode 106: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion and the Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 39:49


    On this episode of The Zeitgeist, guest host Dr. Eric Langenbacher speaks with two participants of the AGI exchange program, “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United States.” Simon …

    Episode 105: Steadfast, Capable, and Ready: An Address by H.E. Boris Pistorius, German Minister of Defense

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 58:03


    In this special episode of The Zeitgeist, we are sharing German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius' address at an event hosted by AGI and Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced …

    Episode 104: Germany Grapples with a World of Fragile Security

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2024 31:37


    The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 forced Germany's government and public to think urgently about the threats to their security. Dr. Christian Mölling joins The Zeitgeist to discuss how …

    Episode 103: Elections and the European Economy

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 27:55


    Elections in Europe and the United States this year could have significant impacts on the European economy. The outcomes will influence how the transatlantic partners address the challenge from China …

    Episode 102: The Trends Driving Europe's Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 45:22


    Every four years, the U.S. National Intelligence Council publishes its Global Trends report, an unclassified document that seeks to assess the key factors that shape the strategic environment for the …

    Episode 101: Germany and the United States in an American Election Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 36:49


    German Ambassador to the United States Andreas Michaelis joins The Zeitgeist podcast to discuss the state of the German-American relationship, how Germany is working with its key partners in Europe …

    Episode 100: The Enduring Allure of Weimar Music and Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2024 17:53


    Max Raabe & the Palast Orchester have been playing the music of and inspired by the 1920s and 30s for almost forty years, to enormous success in Germany and internationally. …

    Episode 99: Transatlantic Risks in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 35:52


    2024 will be a year of crisis and change—the Russian aggression against Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and Africa; the continuing effects of climate change; and the biggest election …

    Episode 98: 2023 in Review

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 46:11


    2023 was a tumultuous year in German politics and foreign policy. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government is polling at record lows following a series of unpopular policies and setbacks in …

    Episode 97: LGBTQ+ Spaces, Public Art, and Memory

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 41:43


    Public memorials have many functions: honoring victims, acknowledging history, or symbolizing values. After the 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, the site was transformed into an …

    Episode 96: The United States and Germany in a Shifting Global Order

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 46:15


    The international order built by the United States after World War II is under strain, and the consensus about America's role that used to unite U.S. political leaders and the …

    Episode 95: German Security Policy's Balancing Act

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 31:08


    Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller joins this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss Germany, transatlantic defense, and the West's response to today's challenging security order. Are Germany and the United States doing …

    Episode 94: The German-Israeli Relationship Following the October 7 Terror Attacks

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 38:15


    On October 7, Hamas terrorists carried out a surprise attack that killed 1,400 people—the deadliest day in Israel's history. Over 200 people remain hostages. One of the first foreign leaders …

    Episode 93: Sahra Wagenknecht Tries to Shake Up German Politics with a New Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 42:42


    On October 23, one of Germany's most popular politicians Sahra Wagenknecht announced that she would leave the Left Party and form a new political party. The “Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance” (BSW) …

    Episode 92: State Elections in Bavaria and Hesse

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 38:31


    Two German Länder elected their state parliaments on Sunday, October 8: Bavaria and Hesse. In both states, it appears that the current coalitions will continue, led by center-right parties (the …

    Episode 91: After the Zeitenwende: Is Germany’s Military Measuring Up?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 26:43


    Dr. Eva Högl is the German Bundestag's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, assisting the Parliament in their oversight of the German military. She is working to ensure that everyone …

    Episode 90: A Fragmenting Global Economic System?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 29:51


    The multilateral economic order is in crisis. The WTO no longer has the final word on trade issues, the IMF and World bank have lost market share as lenders, and …

    Episode 89: Forty Years of Anticipating Trends

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 34:58


    Dr. Jill McGovern has been involved with AGI since the idea for it came about in 1981. As part of our AGI at Forty series, Dr. McGovern reflects on how …

    Episode 88: The Geoeconomic Evolution of Germany and AGI

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 24:52


    On this episode of the Zeitgeist, guest host Dr. Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director of the Society, Culture & Politics Program, continues our AGI at Forty podcast series with …

    Episode 87: German Political Turbulence and the Rise of the Alternative for Germany

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2023 38:15


    Squabbles within Germany's coalition parties and unpopular policy decisions—including a controversial home heating bill spearheaded by Green Party Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck—have dragged the approval rating of the traffic light …

    Episode 86: Transatlantic Alignment in the International Economic Order

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 39:14


    In its economic policies, the Biden administration has focused on domestic investment, close collaboration with like-minded democracies, and addressing geopolitical challenges. The EU is proposing an economic security strategy; the …

    Episode 85: Addressing Germany's Colonial Legacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023


    Germany is well-known for its robust memory culture that deals with the crimes of National Socialism and the Holocaust; however, it has only recently begun to address legacy of its …

    Episode 84: The Evolution of German-American Relations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 28:47


    On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AGI President Jeff Rathke; Dr. Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director of AGI's Society, Culture & Politics Program; and Dr. Jackson Janes, President Emeritus …

    Episode 83: Can the WTO Retool for an Age of Geoeconomic Competition?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2023 29:15


    The open and rules-based trading system is at an inflection point. Countries are reexamining their trade policies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's rise, and Russia's invasion of …

    Episode 82: Dealing with Social Divisions and Integration in Memmingen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2023 34:05


    On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AGI President Jeff Rathke and Susanne Dieper, Director of Programs and Grants, discuss the latest findings in the AGI project “Social Divisions and Questions …

    Episode 81: Sustaining Germany's Support for Ukraine—A Conversation with Dr. Norbert Röttgen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2023 28:22


    On this episode of the Zeitgeist, AGI President Jeff Rathke speaks with Dr. Norbert Röttgen, member of the German Bundestag (CDU) and Vice Chairman of the Atlantik-Brücke, about Germany's efforts …

    Episode 81: Sustaining Germany's Support for Ukraine—A Conversation with Dr. Norbert Röttgen

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 28:22


    On this episode of the Zeitgeist, AGI President Jeff Rathke speaks with Dr. Norbert Röttgen, member of the German Bundestag (CDU) and Vice Chairman of the Atlantik-Brücke, about Germany's efforts …

    Episode 80: 40 Years of AGI—A Conversation with Frank Trommler

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 26:55


    On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AGI looks back on the 40 years of the Institute's work on strengthening the American-German relationship through academic research, policy dialogue, and exchanges. AGI …

    Episode 79: Germany's Public Health Care System

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 26:16


    On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AGI president Jeff Rathke and Dr. Christine Arentz, Professor for Health Economics at the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, discuss Germany's public health …

    Episode 78: Transatlantic Trade Cooperation for the Future—A Conversation with Dan Mullaney

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2023 37:00


    Dan Mullaney, Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, is our guest for this episode of The Zeitgeist. Together with AGI President Jeff Rathke and Peter …

    Episode 77: Zeitenwende Anniversary

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2023 32:48


    On February 27, 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made an historic speech to the German Bundestag, declaring a historic turning point (Zeitenwende) for Germany's security and defense policy following Russia's …

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