Podcasts about saxony anhalt

Derek Scally talks to Hugh about  the aftermath of two elections that have recently taken place: the Swedish general election and regional elections in the Gerrman region of Saxony-Anhalt. Each offers some fascinating insights into current trends and future directions in Germany and Scandinavia, and perhaps more broadly in Europe. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a week where:Trump promises $5,000 for US citizens if Republicans win midterms.MPs vote against Assisted Dying in England and Wales.Thousands protest across Germany after AfD wins 44% in Saxony-Anhalt.The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland sign a joint declaration calling for all three nations to gain independence from the UK.Macklemore dropped from Ed Sheeran tour following venue bans over Palestine remarks.In Society: (9:17) Unless you're in the sector, there's little reason for the typical person to know about Children's Care Homes. Turns out there's an illegal network worth £255m. (Article By Tom Wall) In Politics: (29:24) It's been 50 years since the death of Mao Zedong, the architect of modern-day China. But whilst China will no doubt hail Mao, the China he started and the China now are very different things. (Article By Teemu Ruskola) In the 1st of two Life segments: (42:08) As an adult that won't be having children anytime soon, I get why people are not having children. But whilst it's a logical decision, it does come with an odd sense of grief. (Article By Allie Volpe) Lastly, in the 2nd Life segment: (56:31) Tiny mics, opinions and background music. If you're on social media in any capacity, you've seen an explainer about some topic of interest. Have we reached peak explainer? (Article By Laura Pitcher) Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, peep the contact links below and I'll respond accordingly. Let me know "What's Good?"Rate & ReviewE-Mail: the5thelelmentpub@gmail.comTwitter & IG: @The5thElementUKWebsite: https://the5thelement.co.ukPhotography: https://www.crt.photographyIntro Music - "Too Much" By VanillaInterlude - "Charismatic" By NappyHighChillHop MusicOther Podcasts Under The 5EPN:Diggin' In The Digits5EPN RadioBlack Women Watch...In Search of SauceThe Beauty Of Independence

CAPTION  1930 BERLINGerman Populism Politics And Monetary PolicyJoseph Sternberg examines the electoral rise of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Saxony-Anhalt, highlighting concerns over unpurged neo-Nazi elements within its leadership. While France's Marine Le Pen cleaned up her party's extremist image, the AfD retains radical elements, yet attracts frustrated voters in East Germany due to immigration and economic grievances. Sternberg also notes JD Vance's controversial alignment with European right-wing parties. Turning to economics, Sternberg discusses the Federal Reserve under Kevin Warsh considering a rate hike amid global bond selloffs, rising long-term yields, persistent inflation, and low-growth fiscal challenges in Britain. (3)

European Energy Costs And German PoliticsJudy Dempsey and Thaddeus McCotter analyze European energy vulnerabilities and German political turmoil. Global diesel shortages and rising fuel prices are straining European economies and driving inflation, while U.S. aid to Ukrainehas dropped by 99%. President Trump requested Ukraine cease targeting Russian refineries, though Kyiv lacks sufficient air defenses. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces severe pressure over long-overdue economic reforms alongside electoral gains by the far-right AfD in Saxony-Anhalt and upcoming state elections. Meanwhile, Polandexperiences growing anti-Ukrainian sentiment, and Germany's military is shifting focus toward protecting Ukrainianinfrastructure. (4)

CAPTION  1914 BERLIN BANK RUNCONTENTS-JBS-9-15Federal Reserve Rate Hikes And AILiz Peek expects the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates by 25 basis points due to persistent inflation stuck between 3% and 3.5%. While U.S. economic fundamentals remain strong—with GDP growth exceeding 4% and robust consumer spending—rising diesel fuel prices over $6 per gallon are driving broader price increases across businesses. Refinery constraints and global energy pressures continue to exacerbate these cost headwinds. Regarding artificial intelligence, Peek argues that data center concerns and job loss fears are overstated, though emerging self-generating AI capabilities warrant self-regulation rather than Congressional intervention. (1)Iranian Proxy Warfare Disrupts Regional SecurityJonathan Schanzer analyzes how Iranian proxy strategy is disrupting regional security by targeting Persian Gulfenergy infrastructure. The Houthis have seized key Yemeni Red Sea territory including Mocha, while Iraqi militias shut down Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline, restricting global oil flows. Desperate for military support, Saudi Arabia has engaged with regional partners and Israel. Meanwhile in Lebanon, the Israeli military continues dismantling Hezbollah's underground infrastructure, though political dysfunction in Beirut hampers government control over liberated areas. In Gaza, permanent stabilization remains tied to the difficult task of disarming Hamas through military power. (2)German Populism Politics And Monetary PolicyJoseph Sternberg examines the electoral rise of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Saxony-Anhalt, highlighting concerns over unpurged neo-Nazi elements within its leadership. While France's Marine Le Pen cleaned up her party's extremist image, the AfD retains radical elements, yet attracts frustrated voters in East Germany due to immigration and economic grievances. Sternberg also notes JD Vance's controversial alignment with European right-wing parties. Turning to economics, Sternberg discusses the Federal Reserve under Kevin Warsh considering a rate hike amid global bond selloffs, rising long-term yields, persistent inflation, and low-growth fiscal challenges in Britain. (3)European Energy Costs And German PoliticsJudy Dempsey and Thaddeus McCotter analyze European energy vulnerabilities and German political turmoil. Global diesel shortages and rising fuel prices are straining European economies and driving inflation, while U.S. aid to Ukrainehas dropped by 99%. President Trump requested Ukraine cease targeting Russian refineries, though Kyiv lacks sufficient air defenses. In Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces severe pressure over long-overdue economic reforms alongside electoral gains by the far-right AfD in Saxony-Anhalt and upcoming state elections. Meanwhile, Polandexperiences growing anti-Ukrainian sentiment, and Germany's military is shifting focus toward protecting Ukrainianinfrastructure. (4)Trump Family Ties To Russian OperativesCraig Unger details a ProPublica investigation revealing that Umar Kremlev, head of the International Boxing Association and associate of Vladimir Putin, funded hundreds of thousands of dollars for Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding parties. Kremlev has ties to Russian organized crime, Putin's security apparatus, and an organization linked to kidnapping Ukrainian children. Unger explains that Russian organized crime operates as an arm of state security. Reviewing historical ties dating back to 1980 KGB fronts and 2016 campaign contacts with GRU associates, Unger highlights major ethical and constitutional concerns regarding the Trump family's financial gains. (5)Nuclear Deterrence And Russian Coercive ThreatsPeter Huessy examines Vladimir Putin's routine use of nuclear threats as weapons of blackmail, coercion, and "reflexive control" to deter NATO involvement in Ukraine. Grounded in a 1999 decree authorizing low-yield tactical nuclear weapons, Putin's rhetoric treats nuclear employment as a political instrument despite the catastrophic economic and human consequences of any nuclear detonation. Huessy emphasizes that nuclear use constitutes criminality rather than strategy. To counter Russian coercion, the U.S. maintains strong extended nuclear deterrence through visible bomber deployments in allied nations and modernizing sea-launched cruise missile systems to ensure long-term stability. (6)Midterm Politics Policies And Economic RealitiesThaddeus McCotter evaluates midterm election dynamics, pointing to low presidential approval ratings and a 7% gap favoring Democrats. He criticizes President Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend tied to maintaining a Republicanmajority as an un-Republican, redistributionist scheme that undermines fiscal discipline during high inflation. McCotter notes that combining cash injections with demands for Federal Reserve rate cuts will likely guarantee interest rate hikes. High gas ($4.59) and diesel ($6.09) prices continue fueling voter discontent. Furthermore, McCotter lambasts asking Ukraine to stop attacking Russian refineries as prioritizing campaign optics over existential defense realities. (7)Narrative History And The Western TraditionAllen Guelzo, co-author with James Hankins of the two-volume The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition, emphasizes the crucial role of narrative history. Guelzo notes a one-third decline in college history majors over fifteen years, driven by employment anxieties and hyper-professionalized academic specialization that neglects broader historical storytelling. Using historical examples like Gettysburg and Thermopylae, he illustrates how core civilizational ideas about freedom, human nature, and the pursuit of truth inspire human flourishing. Guelzo highlights the resilience of Western civilization, which routinely undergoes cultural renaissances following major historical crises. (8)

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we talk to Jacobin Germany's Loren Balhorn about the recent election results in Saxony-Anhalt (and the rise of the AfD more broadly) and the increasing militarization of German society—as well as the linkages between the two. We also discuss Die Linke's response to the rise of the right, what's going on with BSW, Germany's shifting relations with the US, and the ongoing echoes of the Global War on Terror in German politics and culture.Read Loren's piece on Die Linke here: https://jacobin.com/2026/06/germany-die-linke-congress-strategyRead Jacobin's interview with Ines Schwerdtner here: https://jacobin.com/2026/03/die-linke-schwerdtner-class-afdSupport us on Patreon here: patreon.com/spassbremse

Speaking on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we talk to Jacobin Germany's Loren Balhorn about the recent election results in Saxony-Anhalt (and the rise of the AfD more broadly) and the increasing militarization of German society—as well as the linkages between the two. We also discuss Die Linke's response to the rise of the right, what's going on with BSW, Germany's shifting relations with the US, and the ongoing echoes of the Global War on Terror in German politics and culture.Read Loren's piece on Die Linke here: https://jacobin.com/2026/06/germany-die-linke-congress-strategyRead Jacobin's interview with Ines Schwerdtner here: https://jacobin.com/2026/03/die-linke-schwerdtner-class-afdSupport us on Patreon here: patreon.com/spassbremse

As the far-right Alternative for Deutschland party wins 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anholt, Audrey talks to Jenny Witt- a journalist based in Hamburg- about what the result means for wider Germany. They also discuss what the Churches in Saxony Anhalt have been doing to help asylum seekers, and how that has brought them into direct confrontation with the AFD.Leadership is something that every organisation and company try to get right. But how different would things be if we all practiced Servant Leadership. We discuss the strengths and limitations with political commentator Alex Kane, theologian Peter McDowell and Professor of inclusive leadership at Birmingham Business School Joanne Murphy.Lord Peter Ricketts was the British government's chief civil servant in the foreign office and was the UK's first national security adviser. He talks to Audrey about his book Peace Makers: Shaping the Modern World, outlining the role played by Diplomats in World War 2 and what we can learn from that in an increasingly unstable world.

The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt tweaked a nerve in Germany and across Europe. We examine how it won, its leaders’ plans and the media’s role in the rise of the far right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for another episode of Hearts of Oak Podcast, where we're honoured to have the return of Petr Bystron, a Member of the European Parliament representing the Alternative for Germany (AfD), as our guest. In this episode, Petr Bystron gives the background to the AfD's result in Saxony-Anhalt — a win so large, he says, yet the old parties still refuse to govern with them. He walks through the vote, the so-called firewall, Friedrich Merz's deal with the Social Democrats, and why he thinks the CDU has left the ground it held under Helmut Kohl. He also talks about Merz and Trump, Giorgia Meloni in Italy, and where the AfD goes next. Petr Bystron is the highest-ranking foreign politician of the AfD: He has been Chairman of the AfD in the Foreign Committee of the German Bundestag since 2017. Since 2021 he has been the foreign policy spokesman for his party and its representative in the Council of Europe and the Interparliamentary Union (IPU). He was the first AfD politician to be officially received by an incumbent president (Milos Zeman) and the first European to receive the „Eagle Award “ from the conservative US Phyllis Schlafly Foundation. He was born in the USSR, from which he fled to Germany at the age of 16, where he received political asylum. Thirty years later, he faced similar persecution in Bavaria: during the 2017 election campaign, he was subjected to an illegal house search and it was announced that he was being monitored by the Bavarian secret service. In addition to these state reprisals, he is always the target of attacks by left-wing extremists. Petr Bystron is one of the founding members of the AfD. From 2015 to 2017 he was the state leader of the party in Bavaria. He took over the party in a crisis and led it from 3.5% of the vote to the best election result of all western federal states in the 2017 federal election with 12.7%. He founded and headed his party's National Committee for European and Foreign Policy (2013-2015). He studied political science at the University of Politics and the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich and has been working as a journalist for years. His articles on business and politics have been published in renowned daily newspapers and magazines in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Petr is married, has two children and has lived in his constituency of Munich North for more than 30 years.  Interview recorded 10th September 2026 Connect with Petr and The AfD...

1841 KREMLINRussian Hybrid Warfare And Balkan GeopoliticsIvana Stradner details Russia's persistent hybrid warfare against Western democracies, utilizing social media, cyber operations, undersea cable sabotage, and disinformation to erode alliance cohesion. She notes how the populist AfD party leveraged platforms like TikTok to capture youth votes in Saxony-Anhalt. Stradner emphasizes that Vladimir Putinexploits Western risk aversion and seeks to divide NATO, arguing Washington must project decisive strength. In the Western Balkans, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić continues balancing between the West, Russia, and China to preserve authoritarian control, despite growing domestic protests led by students and young citizens seeking democratic reform. (3)

1890 SAXONYGerman Political Turbulence Following AfD SurgeJudy Dempsey analyzes the political shockwaves caused by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) securing nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. This outcome has pressured Chancellor Friedrich Merz to defend democratic institutions while maintaining the CDU's strict firewall against forming coalitions with the populist party. Dempsey highlights that AfD's success relies heavily on strong TikTok engagement by young figures like Ulrich Siegmund, appealing to middle-aged men and youth. Although AfD's platform promotes anti-refugee sentiment and hostility toward the EU, Dempsey warns that anti-EU policies would undermine Germany's economic foundation. (4)

1910 BAKUCONTENTS-JBS-9-9-2026Global Refined Fuel Crisis Drives MarketsMichael Bernstam analyzes the global refined petroleum crisis, emphasizing that diesel crack spreads have reached record levels due to refinery bottlenecks and geopolitical conflicts. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and drone strikes on Russian refineries have cut refined product supplies by millions of barrels daily. Because U.S. shale oil yields lighter products unsuitable for heavy diesel production and domestic refineries operate near full capacity, elevated fuel prices are projected to persist into 2027. Concurrently, China is de-risking its foreign reserves by purchasing Russian gold to mitigate potential Western sanctions while exploiting Moscow's fiscal strains to demand steep discounts on natural gas imports. (1)Commercial Space Progress And Planetary ExplorationBob Zimmerman highlights commercial space advancements, noting Stoke Space's $1 billion capital raise to develop its fully reusable Nova rockets and Isar Aerospace's historic orbital launch from Norway. Meanwhile, bureaucracy continues to hinder British spaceport development. In orbital operations, Catalyst demonstrated satellite rendezvous capabilities despite failing to save the Swift observatory's decaying orbit. Additionally, U.S. firms boycotted a Frenchsummit over restrictive proposed EU regulations. Internationally, European and Japanese orbiters successfully separated ahead of Mercury orbital insertion. However, Zimmerman raises concerns over NASA's Perseverance rover dithering on Mars without taking core samples for 15 months. (2)Russian Hybrid Warfare And Balkan GeopoliticsIvana Stradner details Russia's persistent hybrid warfare against Western democracies, utilizing social media, cyber operations, undersea cable sabotage, and disinformation to erode alliance cohesion. She notes how the populist AfD party leveraged platforms like TikTok to capture youth votes in Saxony-Anhalt. Stradner emphasizes that Vladimir Putinexploits Western risk aversion and seeks to divide NATO, arguing Washington must project decisive strength. In the Western Balkans, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić continues balancing between the West, Russia, and China to preserve authoritarian control, despite growing domestic protests led by students and young citizens seeking democratic reform. (3)German Political Turbulence Following AfD SurgeJudy Dempsey analyzes the political shockwaves caused by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) securing nearly 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. This outcome has pressured Chancellor Friedrich Merz to defend democratic institutions while maintaining the CDU's strict firewall against forming coalitions with the populist party. Dempsey highlights that AfD's success relies heavily on strong TikTok engagement by young figures like Ulrich Siegmund, appealing to middle-aged men and youth. Although AfD's platform promotes anti-refugee sentiment and hostility toward the EU, Dempsey warns that anti-EU policies would undermine Germany's economic foundation. (4)Trade Conflict Drives RealignmentCharles Burton discusses the severe breakdown in U.S.-Canada economic relations following retaliatory tariff escalations and trade bans. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has framed the dispute around defending national sovereignty, recalling historical precedent like the 1890 McKinley tariffs that fostered Canadian nationalism. In response to proposed 50% U.S. tariffs and import bans, Canada implemented targeted tariffs against red-state exports. Burton observes that this rift is forcing Ottawa to diversify its resource exports away from the United States toward alternative global markets, warning that Beijing is eagerly waiting to deepen economic and strategic ties with Canada. (5)China Strategic Ambitions In Cislunar SpaceRick Fisher examines growing strategic competition between the United States and China in cislunar space, the critical region between Earth and the Moon. A leaked Chinese military academic article outlines principles for cislunar combat, complemented by plans to launch 30 monitoring cubesats to support space operations. Fisher notes that China's long-standing strategy aims to control cislunar space much like its territorial claims in the South China Sea. He stresses that without firm American deterrence, Beijing could unilaterally establish dominance over cislunar transit and future lunar activities, making preparation for potential conflict essential to maintaining access. (6)U.S. Canada Friction And International DiplomacyMary Kissel assesses escalating trade tensions between President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, driven by disputes over protectionism and retaliatory tariffs. She notes that while both leaders find political advantage in public confrontation ahead of domestic elections, economic integration across energy, banking, and defense remains crucial. Kissel warns against Ottawa using China as an economic counterweight. Turning to European security, Kissel expresses skepticism regarding recent White House diplomatic overtures to Moscow, arguing that negotiating without imposing firm consequences fails to counter Vladimir Putin's unyielding demands and ongoing hybrid warfare tactics across Western Europe. (7)Global Commodity Crises And British PoliticsSimon Constable discusses recent weather, global commodity price spikes, and British political developments. Following relief from long summer heat in France, global markets are facing surging energy costs, with Brent crude hitting $100 per barrel, European electricity rising 30%, and high diesel prices. Agricultural commodities like soybeans, wheat, and corn have also climbed significantly. In Great Britain, Prime Minister Burnham's government faces controversies over turning away volunteer migrant rescue vessels, defunding Territorial Army reserves, and elevated bond yields. Additionally, Foreign Minister Ed Miliband addressed contentious proposals regarding Israeli West Bankimport bans. (8)US Naval Readiness Facing Chinese ExpansionCaptain James Fanell addresses concerns over rust on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, framing it as routine maintenance strain from over 200 days of continuous combat sorties. China has leveraged the warship's appearance for cognitive warfare to push a narrative of American decline. Fanell warns that the U.S. Navy is severely overstretched due to extended deployments, a fleet reduced from fifteen to ten carriers, and decades of flawed ship designs. Meanwhile, China's rapidly expanding fleet conducts aggressive maneuvers near Taiwan and Japanese islands, positioning to potentially enforce a blockade or invade Taiwan. (9)

On Sunday, the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt with 44 per cent of the vote, the highest share for any far-right party in post-1945 Germany. Among the many surprising aspects of the result was the broad, multigenerational support the AfD attracted, on an unusually high turnout of 77 per cent. In this episode, Jan-Werner Müller, a professor of politics at Princeton, talks to James Butler about the reasons behind the AfD's success, from the background of economic malaise in the region to Ulrich Siegmund's successful mix of TikTok and in-person campaigning. They also discuss the legacy of Angela Merkel's migration policies and whether the ‘firewall' against far-right coalitions can survive when mainstream parties keep copying the AfD's rhetoric. Read more on politics in the LRB: ⁠https://lrb.me/lrbpolitics⁠ From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠https://lrb.me/storelrbpod⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran journalist Hans Pfeifer on covering the AfD and what might be next. Then: from Norway's popular monarchy and Russia's struggling coal industry to a macabre Berlin opera and the Women's Basketball World Cup.

The stunning triumph of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a German state election represents a true “challenge to democracy” and has shaken the country’s Jewish community, said author and activist Dr. Ofer Waldman, speaking on the Haaretz Podcast “It's the first time that a right‑extremist party has had such a landslide victory in Germany,” said Waldman, who heads the Heinrich Boll Foundation office in Tel Aviv. Haaretz writer and editor David Issacharoff, who joined Waldman on the podcast for a discussion of the election results, said that state of Saxony-Anhalt, which gave 44 percent of its vote to the controversial AfD party, is populated by voters who “feel abandoned, forgotten, and very isolated,” blaming the state and mainstream parties for their situation and channeling their resentment in an extremist political direction. This is worsened, both Waldman and Issacharoff said, by the fact that East Germany was not part of the post-Holocaust democracy education push in the West. "Keeping Jewish memory there is a real struggle of individuals in that state, and they're up against real forces of neo‑Nazis,” Issacharoff noted, Both commentators pointed to the contrast between the expressed deep worry and concern of the German Jewish community regarding AfD antisemitism, and the resounding “utter silence” coming from the Israeli government – together with comments from Israel’s ambassador in Berlin during the election campaign that highlighted antisemitism on the left, while downplaying the AfD’s positions. "When Israel and its representative in Germany focus all the fire towards the left, then they're totally absolving the right from its responsibility for antisemitism. And when the representatives of the Jewish state say that, it matters in Germany," Issacharoff said. Waldman added the source of the dissonance was “what is perceived as a mutual enemy” by Israel’s far-right government. “The AfD is perceived as the enemy of the Muslim community in Germany and, as such, a possible ally to the current Israeli administration,” Waldman said. Read more: German Jews 'Appalled' by Historic AfD Win as Israel Avoids Direct Condemnation The AfD's Victory Shatters Germany's Illusions of Immunity to the Far Right Several European States Clarify Settlement Trade Restrictions Depend on EU Action The Far-right German Party AfD Says It Has Nothing Against Jews. This Book Proves Otherwise Inside the German pro-Israel Lobby's Campaign to Defund UNRWA Who Stole All the Holocaust Memorial Stones on Oct. 7, Shaking This Quiet East German Town?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Britain's migration crisis is boiling over as "Stop the Boats" protesters disrupt Dover, clashes erupt over the government's response, and more migrants arrive on the south coast. We look at the growing anger over immigration, the authorities' reaction to protesters, and fresh concerns about free speech after another Brit is arrested over alleged online communications offences. Then we turn to Germany, where the AfD celebrates a huge result in Saxony-Anhalt, shaking the political establishment and raising new questions about whether Europe's old consensus is beginning to break apart.  I'm joined once again by Rick "The Reptile Guy" de Ridder from Emerald Coast Zoo. Last time he brought a snake and an alligator into the studio — this time, we have no idea what he's bringing with him. Learn more: https://emeraldcoastzoo.com/ I'm also joined by Jonathan Otto, an investigative filmmaker, humanitarian, natural-health researcher and founder of MyRedLight. We discuss red-light therapy, the relationship between natural light and health, some of the more unconventional practices he's explored, and how his faith, family and mission to alleviate suffering shape his approach to the human body. Learn more: https://myredlight.com/ To get a free audio copy of my book 'How to Become a Christian in 7 Days', you can download it at https://www.russellbrand.com/how-to-become-a-christian-audiobook/ Order my new book 'How to Become Christian in 7 Days' at https://bit.ly/russellbook2 Listen to Jake's new album - https://bit.ly/JakeSmithAlbum If you want to support the show and take care of yourself properly—without turning your bathroom into a laboratory—go to tryreborn.com. It's the Reborn store: supplements, skincare, daily essentials… simple, effective, and made for people who are trying to stay strong while the world does whatever this is. Go check out www.tryreborn.com and grab what you need  

In this solo episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we examine the recent electoral victory of the Alternative for Germany (AFD) in the state of Saxony-Anhalt – and what it tells us about the global resurgence of the far right.The AFD's crushing victory has alarmed commentators around the world. An openly fascist party emerging in Germany has a special and terrifying significance. But as veteran left intellectual Tariq Ali argues in a powerful Substack essay, this is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of a global trend – and it is a direct consequence of the failures of neoliberalism and the "extreme centre."Ali writes that the election results "are not a huge surprise." The so-called firewall created by the extreme centre parties of the German elite has only aided the AFD's growth. The Christian Democratic Union, which won 37% in 2021, is now down to 18.5%. Meanwhile, Die Linke has won more votes than the Social Democratic Party, and the Sahra Wagenknecht Party has crossed the 5% threshold.The problem, Ali argues, is that the political and economic elites insist "that no reforms are possible and the current form of capitalism is fixed indefinitely." Telling people that an economic system that erodes their living standards year after year is the only option has created a vacuum that the far right is only too happy to fill.We also explore the historical context: the incomplete reckoning with Europe's fascist past, the failure of post-war denazification, and the erosion of the social democratic contract that once made Germany and other European countries resistant to extremism.Topics covered:The AFD's victory in Saxony-AnhaltTariq Ali's analysis of the rise of the far rightThe failure of the "extreme centre"Neoliberalism and the erosion of living standardsThe collapse of the post-war social democratic contractEurope's incomplete reckoning with fascismThe global nature of far-right resurgenceIf you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us – we are migrating from Patreon to Substack. Details in the show notes.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can watch this episode in full on Youtube: https://youtu.be/iZkeL-6UtSQThis week on Planet Normal, your co-pilots of sanity, Halligan and Pearson, strap into the rocket of right thinking to tackle a tumultuous news agenda.Allison argues following migrant protests in Portsmouth and Dover, that while black masks are wrong, millions of Brits share the anger over cross-channel immigration. She also takes aim at falling school standards in Wales and Scotland, and sounds the alarm over Ed Miliband's foreign policy moves against Israel. Meanwhile, Liam analyses the electoral earthquake in Saxony-Anhalt, where Germany's AfD swept 44% of the vote. And Fresh from the Reform UK conference in Birmingham, the duo dissects the appearance of France's Jordan Bardella alongside the fallout from Channel 4's undercover sting. Stowing away on the rocket this week is author Ross Clark, who joins to discuss his new book, Britain Is Bust: The Coming Sovereign Debt Crisis and What It Means for You. Ross breaks down the nation's ballooning debt and rising bond yieldsHighlightsPlanet Normal: Boat-load of trouble: Channel fury, Israel sanctions & broke BritainUnpacking the migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth. Warning over Ed Miliband's stance on Israel.Ross Clark joins to discuss why Britain is bust and a sovereign debt crisis looms. Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor |Read more from Allison: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/a/ak-ao/allison-pearson/ | Read Allison ‘The ‘poison' on Britain's streets is a failure by the political class': https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/08/poison-streets-failure-political-class/ |Read Allison ‘The Church of England has abandoned its mission in the UK‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/09/06/the-church-of-england-has-lost-its-way/ |Read Liam ‘Only spending cuts can rescue Britain's economy‘: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/09/06/only-spending-cuts-can-rescue-britains-economy/ |Read more from Liam: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/liam-halligan/ |Read Liam's Substack: https://liamhalligan.substack.com/ |Need help subscribing or reviewing? Learn more about podcasts here:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/podcast-can-find-best-ones-listen/ |Email: planetnormal@telegraph.co.uk |For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/normal | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

German far-right party Alternative for Germany won a regional election in Saxony-Anhalt over the weekend, putting it on the brink of governing a state for the first time. Reuters reports on what the victory means for the country’s political landscape. NTSB investigators are examining the moments leading up investigators are examining what happened in the moments before an Amazon-operated cargo jet barreled off the runway in Miami on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five others. CBS News breaks down the ongoing probe. President Trump is moving ahead with plans to build a 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, D.C., despite legal challenges seeking to halt the project. Dan Diamond, White House reporter at the Washington Post, discusses how Trump is using executive authority to alter landmarks and historic sites across the capital. Plus, new Canadian retaliatory tariffs on American steel and aluminum took effect, a staff walkout closed the Eiffel Tower, and Wimbledon is planning to take a stand against social-media influencers. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

Today's Headlines: It was a wild Labor Day weekend for Trump who spent the holiday posting AI images of himself as the Hulk, on the moon, with George Washington, and a map renaming New Mexico to "New America" and stepped off Air Force One as a brunette. Meanwhile, Tweedles Dum and Dee, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff visited Kyiv for peace talks with Zelensky, raved about how respectful Putin has been to them personally, and promised announcements "in the coming weeks" before winter. In semi-related news, the Russia backed far-right AFD party won a landslide in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt regional election with 78% turnout, forming the first far-right state government since the original Nazis, with two more German regional elections coming September 20th. Canada's 50% retaliatory tariffs on over 700 American imports went into effect at midnight, doubling what they already had in place, because liberation day is the gift that keeps on giving. In disturbing news, the Tate brothers, picked up another set of Romanian indictments for trafficking minors, money laundering, and witness intimidation while sitting in Florida custody awaiting potential extradition to the UK, and seven Epstein survivors sued hairstylist Frederic Fekkai — named by Massie last week — alleging his salon was the "epicenter for victim grooming," with one of his locations inside a store owned by Les Wexner, also named by Massie, so the connections keep connecting. And finally, Hunter Biden announced a meme coin called $LAPTOP launching on Coinbase, with 20% of proceeds going to people who lost money on Trump's meme coin, which is something. Resources/Articles mentioned: Axios: Witkoff and Kushner make first Kyiv visit for peace talks NYT: Trump Floats Renaming New Mexico as ‘New America,' Prompting Pushback The Independent: ‘What's going on with Trump's hair?' Internet puzzled over president's new brunette coiffure NYT: Is Work Starting for Trump's Arch? It Depends Who's Asking. AP News: Germany's Merz shocked by far-right state election triumph but doubles down on unpopular reforms NYT: Brushing Aside Trump's Threats, Canada Retaliates on Tariffs NYT: Andrew and Tristan Tate Face New Charges in Romania: A Timeline of the Cases Against Them Allure: A New Lawsuit Alleges Frédéric Fekkai's Hair Salon Was Epstein's "Epicenter for Victim Grooming" WSJ: Hunter Biden (and His Laptop) Enter the Cryptosphere With New Meme Coin Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 In this hard-hitting episode, Joe dives deep into the undeniable systemic flaws, voting anomalies, and institutional failures threatening election integrity across the globe. Joe breaks down the staggering figures behind past mail-in ballot discrepancies and pulls back the curtain on international developments—specifically examining the recent state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, where massive mail-in ballot spikes dramatically altered early leading totals for the right-leaning AfD party. Plus, we explore critical analysis on how compromised systems and internal gatekeepers continue to protect fraudulent practices.Joe sits down with conservative activist, X influencer, and January 6 participant Jake Lang. Following a presidential pardon and spent years in pretrial detention, Lang joins us to address his recent street actions, high-profile media appearances—including his dialogue with Pastor James Manning—and his campaign targeting Western immigration policy and local leadership. Joe confronts the line between provocative public speech and direct action, examining what winning the culture war actually looks like for those on the frontlines.Joe turns our lens to how everyday citizens are treated as collateral damage by elected officials prioritizing foreign agendas over local security. From the shocking testimony of families demanding accountability to Danbury, Connecticut's controversial vote allowing non-citizens and DACA recipients to become armed police officers, we dissect the contrast between local law enforcement decisions and national politics. With House leadership sending representatives home early ahead of the midterms after prioritizing select foreign aid packages, we ask the tough question: who is actually working for the American people?

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open on Germany, where Alternative für Deutschland just took over 43 percent in Saxony-Anhalt and the famous firewall is starting to look less like a wall and more like a formality. The guys get into why decades of neoliberal austerity left the far right as the only people making anybody an offer, and why the conservatives currently swearing they'd never work with the AfD are exactly the people history says eventually will. Then it's Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two private citizens holding no position in the United States government, flying to Moscow to tell Vladimir Putin that his retirement stories are going to be the best ones in the room. Back stateside, the Fifth Circuit informed the residents of Jackson, Mississippi that there's no constitutional right to clean drinking water and no right to truthful information from officials during a public health crisis, which does raise the question of what anybody is paying taxes for. And to close it out, Third Way took fifty million dollars and came back with a twenty point New Economic Bargain featuring federally backed used car loans, because if you can't afford a house you're going to need somewhere to sleep. Support the show by signing up to our Patreon to hear the full Weekender episode each Friday as well as special Live Shows and access to our community discord: http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast

Đảng Lựa chọn Thay thế cho nước Đức (A-F-D) đã ăn mừng việc vươn lên dẫn đầu, trong các cuộc thăm dò ý kiến cử tri, sau cuộc bầu cử cấp tiểu bang ở Saxony-Anhalt, đưa một đảng cực hữu lên vị trí nắm quyền cấp tiểu bang lần đầu tiên, kể từ Thế chiến thứ hai. Đảng này đã nổi lên như một lực lượng chính trị mạnh nhất, ở tiểu bang miền đông nước Đức, nhưng dường như vẫn chưa đạt được đa số tuyệt đối như mục tiêu ban đầu, để tự mình điều hành đất nước.

Authorities in Florida are investigating why an Amazon cargo plane overran the runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing five people and injuring five more.President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, made their first wartime visit to Kyiv after talks in Moscow, offering no breakthrough as Ukraine pushes for renewed peace talks and more air defenses.And Germany's far-right AfD more than doubled its vote in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, a result that could produce the country's first far-right regional government since Nazi Germany.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Miguel Macias, Tina Kraja, Mohamad ElBardicy and Lindsay Totty.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Julie Depenbrock.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis and Robert Rodriguez. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.(0:00) Introduction(01:56) Miami Plane Crash(05:32) Witkoff & Kushner Visit Ukraine(08:59) Far-Right AfD Wins In GermanySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is heading for a dramatic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Although it is projected to fall short of a majority, the AfD says it has won a mandate to govern. Commentators and political opponents speak of the outcome as a watershed and break with the past. No far-right party has won control of a German state since World War Two.Also: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he expects the war with Russia to continue into the winter, following talks with Donald Trump's top envoys in Kyiv. The BBC investigates the claim that individuals working for the Saudi government may have been involved in the 9/11 attacks. Iran warns of "a faster, heavier, and more painful response" to US attacks, as hostilities between the two sides escalate. At least five people have been killed and five others injured after a cargo plane sped off a runway at Miami International Airport. Portugal gives festival-goers wristbands that can instantly detect the date-rape drug GHB. We look at how Nigeria's problems with mass abductions from schools are affecting children's access to education. A volcanic eruption in Indonesia disrupts thousands of flights, and how sleep tracking can actually make your sleep worse. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Ulrich Siegmund during a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) election party following Saxony-Anhalt state election, in Magdeburg, Germany, 06 September 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

Friedrich Merz says the decisive win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt by the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, signals the need for a major reckoning. The AfD's national co-leader, Alice Weidel, says it's aiming to win at least forty per cent in the next general election. Also: the funeral of the Bosnian Serb war criminal, General Ratko Mladić, has gone ahead in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, where some people consider him a national hero. The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, has warned of a "dangerous escalation" by Israel after women and children were killed in an air strike on a residential building in southern Lebanon. A new film about the most important weather forecast in British history, which gave the go-ahead for D-Day on the sixth June 1944, is released in the UK. And the BBC speaks to the 13-year-old who has written a symphony warning about the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: Description: German Chancellor and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Friedrich Merz attends a press conference the day after the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Berlin, Germany, September 7, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Axel Schmidt

Despite a decisive AfD victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, the party appears to have fallen short of an outright majority needed to govern alone. Also on the programme: a BBC investigation into whether the FBI buried evidence of the alleged involvement of Saudi agents in 9/11; and an unlikely hero of the Second World War gets his own movie.(Photo: Candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Ulrich Siegmund, waves during a press conference the day after the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Berlin, Germany, 7 September, 2026. Credit: Liesa Johannssen/Reuters)

Afd win poses challenge for German democracy, we ask could they govern Saxony-Anhalt? Also in the programme: Latvia's foreign minister explains why her country banned Russian books; and the offkey choir that can't sing.(Photo: Anti-AFD protester carrying anti-AfD stickers. Credit: Reuters)

Live Sep 7, 2026  | Yaron Brook Show(Season 12 - Episode 149)Labor Day; Afd; 9/11; Civilian Casualties; Gas Prices; VW; Iran; Achievements | Yaron Brook ShowWatch Now: https://youtube.com/live/WRyx6p9ttZEIf the American worker has never had it better — 46x richer, working 50% fewer hours, dying on the job 60% less often than in 1970 — why does half of Germany just voted for a party built on ethno-nationalism and Putin-worship?Yaron Brook opens Labor Day by torching the holiday's founding myth: American workers didn't get here because of unions or government mandates — they got here because capital, competition, and freedom made human labor worth more every single year. Then he turns to Germany, where the AfD just posted its strongest result ever — 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt — and asks the uncomfortable question nobody in Berlin wants asked: what happens when the only party willing to name migration, energy collapse, and economic stagnation also happens to be ethno-nationalist and pro-Putin?From there: newly surfaced BBC footage tying a Saudi "student" directly to the 9/11 hijackers, why the Strait of Hormuz is still functionally closed a year after the war "ended," a Volkswagen factory getting a second life building Israeli missile defense systems, and why "proportionality" in warfare is — in Yaron's words — barbarism dressed up as ethics. He closes on a robotic surgical system that can now spot blood vessels and nerves live during brain surgery — proof that human achievement never stops compounding, even while politics tries to strangle it.Timestamps — Main Topics0:00 — Labor Day is a celebration of capitalism, not unions — the numbers prove it~20:00 — AfD's landslide win in Saxony-Anhalt and why Germany's "firewall" against it is collapsing~50:00 — Gas prices stay high because the Strait of Hormuz is still not actually open1:11:21 — A dead Volkswagen car plant gets reborn building Israeli missile defense systems1:19:48 — New BBC footage ties a Saudi "student" directly to the 9/11 hijackers1:32:02 — "Proportionality" in war is moral cowardice dressed up as ethics1:40:39 — A surgical robot that spots blood vessels and nerves live during brain surgeryLive Audience Questions1:35:55 — Coke Zero, Diet Coke, or cold turkey? A former addict's honest take on quitting sugar — plus the sweetener research nobody's talking about1:39:25 — Hold your nose and vote Democrat until the midterms? Where "the enemy of my enemy" ends — and whether that support should ever mean writing a check1:40:31 — Who should set safety standards — the market or the government? A machine builder explains why OSHA is barely in the room1:41:52 — Why do East Germans and Russians still get nostalgic for communism? The dark psychology of longing for your own oppression1:45:13 — What actually drives someone to become a Navy SEAL — duty, sacrifice, or something more selfish than people think?1:45:28 — Is Europe quietly dumping Microsoft for homegrown tech — a blip, or the start of a real tech decoupling from America?1:46:34 — Growing up in Israel surrounded by Holocaust survivors — what that does to how you see the world1:47:16 — Did the Enlightenment thinkers already know reason drives innovation — or did it take Ayn Rand to say it out loud?1:48:27 — Texas Senate shakeup: why national Republicans are getting cold feet on Ken Paxton — and just how dangerous a candidate is Talarico?

Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to surge to first place in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, John Ternus faces his first test as Apple CEO, and the US and Ukraine held talks on how to end the conflict with Russia. Plus, defence officials think Europe isn't deterring Moscow's “hybrid” war. Mentioned in this podcast:Far-right AfD surges in German state electionsJohn Ternus's first test at Apple: selling a $2,000 foldable iPhoneTrump envoys hold talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv after meeting Putin in MoscowEurope failing to deter Russia's ‘hybrid' war, warn defence officialsWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts The FT News Briefing is produced by Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, Katya Kumkova, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT's global head of audio. The show's theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, most interesting to note that the positive US jobs report was unable to inspire sustained new highs in US treasury yields or spark a US dollar rally, with USDJPY even breaking down below critical support to start the week as US markets are closed for the extended Labor Day holiday. Elsewhere, AI hardware stocks are trying to get back their mojo as OpenAI has released its latest model. More on the earnings and macro focus for the week ahead and much more also on today's pod, which is hosted by Saxo Global Head of Macro Strategy John J. Hardy. Links An X post by "JH" describing the alarming copper supply shortage that must be overcome, likely with a tremendous price signal, if we are to continue building out AI and electrifying our economies. OpenAI's chief scientist with a piece on the prospects of AI achieving new levels of super-human intelligence and the implications in a piece somewhat ominously titled An Alien Mind. In the wake of watershed Germany elections at the weekend in Saxony-Anhalt and other events across Europe and elsewhere, Michael Every's latest piece follows the threads connecting political events across Europe and around the world.  Read daily in-depth market updates from the Saxo Market Call and the Saxo Strategy Team here. Please reach out to us at marketcall@saxobank.com for feedback and questions. Click here to open an account with Saxo. Intro music by AShamaluevMusic DISCLAIMER This content is marketing material. Trading financial instruments carries risks. Always ensure that you understand these risks before trading. This material does not contain investment advice or an encouragement to invest in a particular manner. Historic performance is not a guarantee of future results. The instrument(s) referenced in this content may be issued by a partner, from whom Saxo Bank A/S receives promotional fees, payment or retrocessions. While Saxo may receive compensation from these partnerships, all content is created with the aim of providing clients with valuable information and options.  

Your daily news in under three minutes.For more on these stories, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com And connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Germany's far-right AfD wins in Saxony-Anhalt, edging closer to state-level power for the first time since World War Two. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner talk up "new ideas" after shuttling between Moscow and Kyiv, but as winter closes in, hope on the streets wears thin. Rescuers pull a 64-year-old woman alive from the Nepal glacier disaster. Swiss researchers test sheep's wool blankets to slow Alpine glacier melt. And on the Texas-Mexico border, horse smugglers wade the Rio Grande, raising screwworm fears.

As the AfD wins in Saxony-Anhalt, how strong is Germany’s firewall against the far right? Then: Is the US concerned about Europe’s space agenda? And: How can a country bounce back after record tourist complaints?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deadline for Canada's countertariffs on US draws near. Quebec Premier to pause provincial election campaign over US tariffs. Power restored to majority of customers on Cape Breton Island after weekend storm, as region braces for more rain. German far-right political party Alternative for Germany wins election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Nepal holds day of mourning for those killed in last month's flash floods. Rescuers narrow search area for missing Canadian athlete Kalie McCrystal. BC Indigenous-led company works up a pulpy alternative to plastic packaging. Former Canadian federal minister Otto Jelinek dies at 86.

Germany's far-right AfD party won a major parliamentary election victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The win marks a growing divide in German politics. The AfD party is anti-immigration and has been labelled as xenophobic and extremist by German intelligence. Liz Landers discussed the outcome with Liana Fix, author of "Germany Rearmed: The Return of War and the End of Illusions." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

AP correspondent David Keyton reports German far-right AfD party won by a landslide in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt.

Germany's far-right party has won a major victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, although it remains to be seen whether the AfD will be able to form a government there.Nevertheless, the result has sent shockwaves not only through Germany, but across Europe too. For the first time since the end of the Second World War, a far-right party could gain power in a German state.Why is the AfD surging? How much is its success being driven by immigration, economic frustration and anger at the political establishment? And what could its rise mean for Germany's relationship with Russia, NATO and the EU?Matt Frei is joined by author and commentator John Kampfner and Dr Sarah Wagner, a researcher in political science at Queen's University Belfast, to examine whether this is a political blip or a watershed moment for Germany and Europe.

The Alternative for Germany Party, or AfD has celebrated surging into first place in exit polls from the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt putting a far-right party on the cusp of power at state level for the first time since World War Two. It has emerged as the strongest political force in the eastern German state but apparently has fallen short of the absolute majority it had sought to govern alone.

Germany's AfD party wins a resounding election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt with almost 45 per cent of the vote. Ulrich Siegmund, the candidate vying to be the state premier pledges the party will not compromise if it comes to power. Investors attempt to look beyond President Trump's threat to cut off top trading partners if the Federal Reserve fails to cut interest rates. Markets have priced in a 60 per cent chance of a rate hike in September following August's jobs data. Brent nears $100 a barrel as the U.S. and Iran engage in fire across the weekend. The U.S. military said it had targeted 3 Iranian oil tankers following missile launches at two American vessels.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

German voters are heading to the polls in an election in Saxony- Anhalt, which could see the far- right AfD win power at a state level for the first time. The party sees the vote as a potential stepping stone to nationwide success. Also in the programme: The top US envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are in Kyiv for their first talks in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion; the political philosopher Francis Fukuyama worries about the future direction of American democracy; and we will hear from May el-Toukhy, one of the only two female directors competing at the Venice Film Festival about her film, premiering tonight.(Phot0: The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund (R), and his wife, Julia Siegmund, cast their votes at a polling station in Tangermuende, Germany, 06 September 2026. Credit: EPA)

Exit polls in Germany show the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is heading for a crushing victory in the eastern state of Saxony Anhalt. Also on the programme: President Trump's top envoys make their first visit to Ukraine; and Ireland's greatest woman boxer bows out in glory. We'll hear from Katie Taylor's childhood hero. (Photo: Top candidate of the far-right AfD, Ulrich Siegmund, gestures from the stage at the AfD election party after exit polls in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Magdeburg, Germany. Credit: Reuters)

Exit polls in Germany indicate that the far-right AfD party has won 44.5% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, its strongest result in a regional election. Support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU is projected to have almost halved, to 18 point 5 percent. But the Alternative for Germany party has fallen short of an overall majority, leaving other parties facing difficult negotiations to form a government.

Nova Scotia is mourning a woman who died in floodwaters near Cleveland, N.S., as heavy rain and high winds wash out roads across Cape Breton.U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Kyiv today following talks in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin.Voting is underway in the eastern German state of Saxony—Anhalt, where the far—right Alternative for Germany party leads in the polls. Iran claims it has targeted an unmanned U.S. vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, following American military strikes that disabled two Iranian oil tankers and sank a third. Israel has launched fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon, killing at least four people in response to a Hezbollah drone attack. Canadian businesses are adjusting supply chains to survive growing cross—border trade friction with the U.S.Thousands of Quebec students with disabilities are returning to class after experiencing a "break in service" due to a lack of specialized resources. Uganda's lion population has dropped over 40 percent since 2011 to under 300 animals.

Donald Trump's top envoys have arrived in Moscow, as part of a renewed diplomatic push to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Also on the programme, Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland party is aiming to secure a majority in the regional parliament of Saxony-Anhalt; people are still being rescued ten days after devastating floods in Nepal; and, the enduring appeal of Fleetwood Mac's most celebrated album, by the man who produced it.(Photo: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for Peace Missions listen as Vice President JD Vance speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Pakistan and Iran, Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Islamabad, Pakistan. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS)

[00:30] Europe on the Edge (28 minutes) Far-right party Alternative für Deutschland is poised to take over the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany. Spanish enclave Ceuta has devolved into chaos after Moroccan migrants overran the city in late July. [28:00] AI Is Getting Scary (23 minutes) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted that “the next generation of [AI] models are going to be sobering for everybody.” Altman claims he is on “team humanity” while admitting that we are “sailing in unknown waters.” Are these incredibly fast technological advances a positive step for the world? [51:15] WorldWatch (4 minutes)

Ulrich Siegmund, the charismatic young leader of the AfD party in Saxony-Anhalt, has been labelled Germany's most dangerous man by Der Spiegel. John Kampfner explains why. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

On Sunday, Alternative for Germany could become the first far-right nationalist party to win a state election since the end of the second world war. Is Britain right to worry about Palantir handling government contracts? And could the Chinese learn to love chocolate? Guests and host:Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondentGeorgia Banjo, Britain correspondentDon Weinland, China business and finance editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Germany, AfD, Alternative for Germany, Saxony-AnhaltPalantir, NHSChina, chocolate Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, Alternative for Germany could become the first far-right nationalist party to win a state election since the end of the second world war. Is Britain right to worry about Palantir handling government contracts? And could the Chinese learn to love chocolate? Guests and host:Tom Nuttall, chief Germany correspondentGeorgia Banjo, Britain correspondentDon Weinland, China business and finance editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: Germany, AfD, Alternative for Germany, Saxony-AnhaltPalantir, NHSChina, chocolate Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.